Screening of discomfort and mood disorders in patients who are candidates for surgery for head and neck cancer: sociodemographic predictors

BACKGROUND: The authors conducted an observational, cross-sectional study whose purpose is to identify the sociodemographic factors predictive of mood disorders and distress in patients with head and neck cancer pathology. METHODS: The Distress Thermometer (DT) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires were administered to 86 patients (44 males and 42 females) affected by head and neck cancer. RESULTS: The only predictive factor for mood and distress disorders is sex while the other social and clinical factors taken into consideration do not appear to be determinants. CONCLUSIONS: head and neck cancer represent a moment of profound distress but this is independent of sociodemographic factors, with the exception of the female sex, which is more sensitive to traumatic events and therefore needs more support from medical and health care personnel