Prevalence and persistence of depressive symptoms during the first year postdiagnosis in a large sample of patients with head and neck cancer

M Bryant Howren; Alan J Christensen; Nitin A Pagedar

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104257

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Prevalence and persistence of depressive symptoms during the first year postdiagnosis in a large sample of patients with head and neck cancer

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Prevalence and persistence of depressive symptoms during the first year postdiagnosis in a large sample of patients with head and neck cancer

M Bryant Howren, Alan J Christensen and Nitin A Pagedar

American journal of otolaryngology, Vol.45(3), 104257

03/19/2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104257

PMCID: PMC11070284

PMID: 38518447

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https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11070284/pdf/nihms-1979589.pdfView

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Abstract

The experience of persistent depressive symptomatology during the first year postdiagnosis has implications for recovery and adjustment by one year postdiagnosis. The present descriptive study sought to examine the prevalence and persistence of mild to moderate-severe depressive symptomology and associated disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with HNC. This study was a prospective observational study at a single-institution tertiary cancer center. Depressive symptomatology was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), captured at diagnosis and 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-months postdiagnosis. HNC-specific HRQOL was measured using the Head and Neck Cancer Inventory (HNCI). Four subgroups were defined by BDI scores over time: persistent-moderate/severe subgroup, persistent-mild subgroup, transient subgroup, and resilient subgroup. The distribution of patients (N = 946) was 65 (6.9 %) in the persistent-moderate/severe subgroup, 190 (20.1 %) in the persistent-mild subgroup, 186 (19.7 %) in the transient subgroup, and 505 (53.3 %) in the resilient subgroup. Across all four HNCI domains, patients in the persistent-moderate/severe subgroup failed to reach a score of 70 by 12-months postdiagnosis which is indicative of high functioning on the HNCI (aesthetics: M = 42.32, SD = 28.7; eating: M = 32.08, SD = 25.7; speech: M = 47.67, SD = 25.3; social disruption: M = 52.39, SD = 24.3). Patients in the persistent-mild subgroup failed to reach 70 in three of four domains. Patients in the resilient subgroup reached, on average, >70 on all HNCI domains. Depression is a considerable issue during the first year postdiagnosis. Avenues for screening and intervention should be incorporated into HNC patient care per clinical practice guidelines to optimize recovery and HRQOL.

Health-related quality of life

Psycho-oncology

Depression

Head and neck cancer

Cancer survivorship

Details

Title: Subtitle: Prevalence and persistence of depressive symptoms during the first year postdiagnosis in a large sample of patients with head and neck cancer
Creators: M Bryant Howren - University of Iowa
Alan J Christensen - University of Iowa
Nitin A Pagedar - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of otolaryngology, Vol.45(3), 104257
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2024.104257
PMID: 38518447
PMCID: PMC11070284
NLM abbreviation: Am J Otolaryngol
eISSN: 1532-818X
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100011343, name: Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa; DOI: 10.13039/100000054, name: National Cancer Institute
Language: English
Date published: 03/19/2024
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Pathology; Otolaryngology
Record Identifier: 9984573952902771

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