Alcoholism, depression, and abnormal cognition in head and neck cancer: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependency, depression, and cognitive impairment in presurgical head and neck cancer patients.


METHODS
Standardized testing by diagnostic interview was used to determine major depression and alcoholism. Mattis Dementia Rating Scale examined cognitive ability preoperatively. Twenty-four patients with advanced head and neck cancer participated.


METHODS
University hospital.


RESULTS
A total of 63.6% met criteria for alcohol abuse and 62 percent for alcohol dependence; 26.1 % of patients met criteria for major depression. Testing in multiple subsets of cognitive function demonstrated measurable deficits in both alcohol dependents and abusers. All deficits were significant when compared with population norms.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that prevalence of alcohol abuse, major depression, and cognitive impairment is common in head and neck cancer patients preoperatively. Early diagnosis and management of these disorders should be considered in care of the head and neck cancer patient.
McCaffrey
Judith Czaja
JC
Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology-Head and Neck Program, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center at University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. mccaffrj@moffitt.usf.edu
Weitzner
Michael
M
Kamboukas
Dimitra
D
Haselhuhn
Gretchen
G
Lamonde
Laurie
L
Booth-Jones
Margaret
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence