Prediction of depression 6 months to 3 years after treatment of head and neck cancer.
BACKGROUND
Head and neck cancer and its treatment can have important psychosocial implications. Many patients become depressed. The aim of this prospective study is to examine whether pretreatment variables can be used to predict depression up to 3 years after treatment.


METHODS
Head and neck cancer patients (n = 197) treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy completed both before and after treatment a questionnaire including items on social support, coping, depressive symptoms, physical functioning, and physical symptoms.


RESULTS
Eight pretreatment variables (tumor stage, sex, depressive symptoms, openness to discuss cancer in the family, available appraisal support, received emotional support, tumor-related symptoms, and size of the informal social network) were used to calculate a risk score to determine which patients were depressed at 6 months to 3 years after treatment (positive predicted value, 58%; negative predicted value, 83%).


CONCLUSIONS
Eight pretreatment variables can be used to predict accurately those head and neck cancer patients who are likely to become depressed up to 3 years after treatment.
de Leeuw
J R
JR
Research Group Psychology of Health and Illness, Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University Medical Center, PO Box 80036, 3508TA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
de Graeff
A
A
Ros
W J
WJ
Blijham
G H
GH
Hordijk
G J
GJ
Winnubst
J A
JA
D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012944:Social Support