title: Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in newly diagnosed patients with head and neck cancer and their partners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Head and neck cancer is a life-threatening illness requiring aversive treatments. Despite clear potential for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in both patients and their partners, research is scant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Newly diagnosed patients and partners (number of dyads = 42) completed questionnaires to assess symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, as well as demographic, medical, and attitudinal variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Partners had higher average levels of PTSD symptoms than patients (p = .023). More partners (28.6%) met criteria for estimated PTSD caseness than did patients (11.9%). There were no significant differences in levels of other anxiety or depression symptoms. Perceived threat of disease appeared to be a stronger correlate of PTSD symptom levels than medical variables in patients and partners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A diagnosis of head and neck cancer elicits significant levels of PTSD symptoms in patients, and even higher levels among partners. Identified correlates of distress, including perceived threat of disease, are potential intervention targets.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.|Biobehavioral Medicine in Oncology Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Posluszny
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas.
authors.forename: Angela Liegey
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dougall
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.|Head and Neck Cancer Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Jonas T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Center at San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Argiris
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.|Head and Neck Cancer Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.|Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ferris
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.affiliation: Biobehavioral Medicine in Oncology Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.|Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology, Behavioral, and Community Health Sciences, and Clinical and Translational Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Dana H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bovbjerg
authors.affiliation: Biobehavioral Medicine in Oncology Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.|Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Mary Amanda
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dew
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: blame; couples; head and neck cancer; posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); stress