title: Stability of distress and health-related quality of life as well as relation to neuroticism, coping and TNM stage in head and neck cancer patients during follow-up.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Distress and to some extent health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients was found to be stable during follow-up. About one-third of the distress and HRQoL variances were accounted for in the present investigation with one-third from T stage, one-third directly from neuroticism and one-third from neuroticism via choice of coping response. In addition, choice of coping response predicted directly 5% of the HRQoL variance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the stability of distress and HRQoL as related to neuroticism and choice of coping response in HNSCC patients during a follow-up period of 4 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined distress by the general health questionnaire (GHQ), HRQoL, personality by the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and choice of coping response. All patients younger than 78 years with new HNSCC in Western Norway in the period 1992-2001 following successful treatment were interviewed. We determined GHQ and EORTC QLQ C30/H&N35 a second time after 4 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The GHQ scores were stable, whereas the HRQoL sum scores declined slightly (p < 0.001). The GHQ and the HRQoL scores were predicted by neuroticism, avoidant coping pattern, T stage and smoking history, but primarily H&N-specific HRQoL was predicted by treatment-derived factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beisland
authors.forename: Anne K H
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Aarstad
authors.forename: Arild André
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Osthus
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Aarstad
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D000075384:Neuroticism; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires