Prediction of depression 6 months to 3 years after treatment of head and neck cancer

Background. Head and neck cancer and its treatment can have important psychosocial implications. Many patients become depressed. The aim of this prospective study is to examine whether pretreatment variables can be used to predict depression up to 3 years after treatment. Methods. Head and neck cancer patients (n = 197) treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy completed both before and after treatment a questionnaire including items on social support, coping, depressive symptoms, physical functioning, and physical symptoms. Results. Eight pretreatment variables (tumor stage, sex, depressive symptoms, openness to discuss cancer in the family, available appraisal support, received emotional support, tumor-related symptoms, and size of the informal social network) were used to calculate a risk score to determine which patients were depressed at 6 months to 3 years after treatment (positive predicted value, 58%; negative predicted value, 83%). Conclusions. Eight pretreatment variables can be used to predict accurately those head and neck cancer patients who are likely to become depressed up to 3 years after treatment. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.