Survival In Depressed Head, Neck Cancer Patients Much Lower

Depressed head and neck cancer patients are less likely to survive, according to a recent study.

Researchers at the University of Texas found that depressed patients were 3.5 times less likely to survive five years later when compared to patients who were not depressed.

"The results of this study were quite intriguing, showing depression was a significant factor predicting survival at five years, even after controlling for commonly accepted prognostic factors," said Dr. Adam Garden, a professor of radiation oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, in a press release.

During the study, researchers followed 130 MD Anderson patients who were diagnosed with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which originates at the back of the throat and the base of the tongue. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire that evaluated their symptoms of depression, which each patient was then monitored for a mean of five years until their last visit to see health professionals or their death.

Findings showed that depressed patients were 3.5 times less likely to survive five years later and their degree of depression on the depression scale increased, reducing survival by 10 percent, researchers say.

"Regardless of depression's impact on cancer outcome, all patients should seek help for prolonged and elevated levels of depression as effective medications and therapeutic options are available," said Dr. Eileen Shinn, an assistant professor of behavioral science at MD Anderson.

The study is published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

Related Articles

Program Helps Treat Depression In Moms

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).