title: Psychosocial consequences for partners of patients after total laryngectomy and for the relationship between patients and partners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored the long-term impact of a Total Laryngectomy (TL) on the partner and on the relationship between laryngectomees and their partners.
  
  
  METHODS
  151 laryngectomees and 144 partners completed questionnaires assessing the psychosocial impact of a TL on the partner (quality of life, anxiety and depression, loss of control, fear, hopelessness, post-traumatic growth, caregiving burden) and on the spousal relationship (change in the quality of the spousal relationship and openness to discussion of the illness in the family).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A considerable number of partners of laryngectomees experience a psychosocial impact of the consequences of the TL, specifically on their social life (35%) and on their sexual relationship (31%). Also, the tendency of other people to neglect their laryngectomized life companion, affects more than half of the partners negatively. Clinical levels of anxiety and depression were found in around 20% of the partners. The consequences of a TL has a negative change on the sexual functioning for more than 30% of both laryngectomees and partners, the communication for around one fifth of both laryngectomees and partners, and feelings of dependency of the partner for one third of the laryngectomees.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A TL has a considerable impact on the psychosocial life of partners of laryngectomees and on the spousal relationship. The findings of this explorative study sets the stage for structural screening on the need for support, not only for patients, but also for their partners. Sexuality and intimacy should be part of this screening.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus Medical Centre, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.offerman@erasmusmc.nl.
authors: M P J
authors: MP
authors: Offerman
authors: Department of Pulmonary Medicine of the Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Institute for Health and Environmental Issues/IGO, Schijf, The Netherlands.
authors: J F A
authors: JF
authors: Pruyn
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus Medical Centre, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: M F
authors: MF
authors: de Boer
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Section Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: J J V
authors: JJ
authors: Busschbach
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Erasmus Medical Centre, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Baatenburg de Jong
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007825:Laryngectomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Head and neck cancer; Impact; Intimacy; Partner; Psychosocial problems; Relationship; Spouse; Total laryngectomy