Depressive symptoms, social anxiety, and perceived neck function in patients with head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND

This study examined the relationships of depressive symptoms and social anxiety with perceived neck function in patients treated for head and neck cancer.

METHODS

Depressive symptoms, social anxiety, and perceived neck-related function were measured at baseline, posttreatment, every 6 weeks thereafter for 1 year after the end of treatment, and at 15 and 18 months posttreatment. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to generate clusters of patients with similar baseline and trajectories of perceived neck-related function after head and neck cancer treatment.

RESULTS

Participants included 83 subjects who had completed at least 1 follow-up assessment. Three clusters of longitudinal patterns in neck disability were identified: none/mild, moderate, and severe. Significant associations were found between membership in the neck disability index trajectories and membership in the longitudinal patterns of depressive symptoms and social anxiety.

CONCLUSION

Impaired physical function and psychological distress are intertwined for patients with head and neck cancer long after completing treatment.