title: Value of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in the follow up of head and neck cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have prospectively investigated psychological morbidity in UK head and neck cancer patients. This study aimed to explore changes in psychological symptoms over time, and associations with patients' tumour and treatment characteristics, including toxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and twenty patients were recruited to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Late Effects on Normal Tissue (Subjective, Objective, Management and Analytic) ('LENT-SOMA') questionnaires, both pre- and post-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anxiety was highest pre-treatment (38 per cent) and depressive symptoms peaked at the end of treatment (44 per cent). Anxiety significantly decreased and depression significantly increased, comparing pre- versus post-treatment responses (p < 0.001). Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores were significantly correlated with toxicity, age and chemotherapy (p < 0.01 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to analyse the relationship between Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores and toxicity scores in head and neck cancer patients. It lends support for the use of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Late Effects on Normal Tissue (Subjective, Objective, Management and Analytic) questionnaire in routine clinical practice; furthermore, continued surveillance is required at multiple measurement points.
authors: Department of Clinical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors: L A
authors: LA
authors: Joseph
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Routledge
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Burns
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Swindell
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Sykes
authors: N J
authors: NJ
authors: Slevin
authors: S E
authors: SE
authors: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010036:Otolaryngology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires