M Bryant Howren1, Alan J Christensen, Lucy Hynds Karnell, Gerry F Funk. 1. Department of Psychology, Center for Research in the Implementation of Innovative Strategies in Practice, Iowa City Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. matthew-howren@uiowa.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Symptoms of depression are common in those with cancer. The authors investigated whether depressive symptoms assessed before the initiation of cancer treatment predicted diminished health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at follow-up. DESIGN: As part of a large, prospective study of oncologic outcomes, 306 patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) were assessed on several clinical and psychosocial characteristics during a pretreatment clinic visit and then at 3- and 12-month follow-up appointments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Depressive symptomatology was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory and HNC-specific HRQOL (main outcome measure) was assessed with the Head and Neck Cancer Inventory. RESULTS: Controlling for age, gender, marital status, cancer site, stage of disease, alcohol and tobacco use, comorbidity status, and pretreatment HRQOL, simultaneous multiple regression analyses revealed that depressive symptoms present at study enrollment, before the initiation of cancer treatment, significantly predicted lower HRQOL at 3- and 12-month follow-up assessments across the 4 HNC-specific domains of speech, eating, aesthetics, and social disruption (all ps <or= .01). CONCLUSION: Results suggest that depressive symptomatology present near the time of diagnosis can have a significant, deleterious impact on HRQOL over time in HNC survivors. Thus, it may be useful to assess depression at diagnosis to identify individuals at greater risk for poor HRQOL outcomes.
OBJECTIVE: Symptoms of depression are common in those with cancer. The authors investigated whether depressive symptoms assessed before the initiation of cancer treatment predicted diminished health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at follow-up. DESIGN: As part of a large, prospective study of oncologic outcomes, 306 patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) were assessed on several clinical and psychosocial characteristics during a pretreatment clinic visit and then at 3- and 12-month follow-up appointments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Depressive symptomatology was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory and HNC-specific HRQOL (main outcome measure) was assessed with the Head and Neck Cancer Inventory. RESULTS: Controlling for age, gender, marital status, cancer site, stage of disease, alcohol and tobacco use, comorbidity status, and pretreatment HRQOL, simultaneous multiple regression analyses revealed that depressive symptoms present at study enrollment, before the initiation of cancer treatment, significantly predicted lower HRQOL at 3- and 12-month follow-up assessments across the 4 HNC-specific domains of speech, eating, aesthetics, and social disruption (all ps <or= .01). CONCLUSION: Results suggest that depressive symptomatology present near the time of diagnosis can have a significant, deleterious impact on HRQOL over time in HNC survivors. Thus, it may be useful to assess depression at diagnosis to identify individuals at greater risk for poor HRQOL outcomes.
Authors: Namie Okino Sawada; Juliana Maria de Paula; Helena Megumi Sonobe; Marcia Maria Fontão Zago; Giselle Patricia Guerrero; Adriana Cristina Nicolussi Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2012-11 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Benedicta E Beck-Broichsitter; Jörn Huck; Thomas Küchler; Daniela Hauke; Jürgen Hedderich; Jörg Wiltfang; Stephan T Becker Journal: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol Date: 2016-10-18 Impact factor: 4.553