title: Psychosocial distress in patients with thyroid cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate levels of psychosocial distress in thyroid cancer patients. An analysis of factors contributing to levels of distress is included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individual retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Head and neck cancer clinic at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 118 newly diagnosed thyroid cancer patients were included in the study. Univariate and multivariate analyses evaluated levels of and factors contributing to distress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost half (43.3%) of patients had significant distress. Those with self-reported psychiatric history, use of antidepressant medication, and history of radiation treatment had higher levels of distress. On multivariate analysis, patient endorsement of emotional issues predicted a higher distress level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thyroid cancer patients have high distress levels. Identification of thyroid cancer patients with high distress levels is important to offer additional support during cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA George E. Whalen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA luke.buchmann@hsc.utah.edu.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buchmann
authors.affiliation: The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Shaelene
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashby
authors.affiliation: The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Cannon
authors.affiliation: The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anxiety; depression; oncology; psychosocial distress; thyroid cancer