Associations between quality of life, coping styles, optimism, and anxiety and depression in pretreatment patients with head and neck cancer.
BACKGROUND
Head and neck cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage and consequently radical treatment is necessary. The pretreatment phase is a time of high anxiety and depression for patients. This study aimed to investigate whether anxiety and depression are related to quality of life, coping styles, and dispositional optimism.


METHODS
One hundred and three patients were recruited after diagnosis to a questionnaire study. Measures included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; SF12v2 Health Survey; Brief COPE, and the Revised Life Orientation Test.


RESULTS
Quality of life, in particular emotional role explained a large proportion of the variance in pretreatment anxiety and depression. In addition, the use of negative coping styles was related to high anxiety levels and low levels of optimism were related to higher levels of depression.


CONCLUSIONS
There are a small but significant proportion of pretreatment patients that may benefit from individualized support.
Horney
Debbie J
DJ
Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Division of Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton, United Kingdom.
Smith
Helen E
HE
McGurk
Mark
M
Weinman
John
J
Herold
Jim
J
Altman
Keith
K
Llewellyn
Carrie D
CD
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000523:psychology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult