Journal of Mental Health and Human Behaviour (Jan 2023)
A comparative study of psychiatric comorbidities in patients of head-and-neck cancer at tertiary care hospital in North India
Abstract
Objectives: Head-and-neck cancer (HNC) is a collective term for cancers of the oral cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, larynx, skin, and salivary glands. HNC is the most common cancer in males and the third-most common cancer in females in India. It is associated with various psychiatric comorbidities; depression, anxiety, and substance abuse being the most common, so the study was planned to assess psychiatric comorbidities in hydrogen cyanide (HCN) patients in comparison to healthy controls. Materials and Methods: After getting approval from the institutional ethics committee, a cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center in North India. Participants recruited in the study after informed consent were of age 18 years and above, of either gender, undergoing treatment for HCN (198); their diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination as the study group and (140) sociodemographically matched participants as healthy controls. Participants with a history of organic brain disease, recent head trauma, or neurodegenerative disorders were excluded from the study. Sociodemographic profiles of participants were noted. For the assessment of psychiatric comorbidities, Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview-6 was used. The psychiatric diagnosis was confirmed by two consultants in accordance with International classifications of diseases (ICD)-10. Results: Most of the participants were males in their fifth decade. The most common psychiatric comorbidity in HCN patients was depression (27.3%), followed by adjustment disorder (14%). Tobacco was used by around half of patients with HNC, followed by alcohol use (16.1%). Conclusions: Psychiatric comorbidities were highly prevalent in HCN patients. Psychiatric disorders are known to affect both the prognosis, hospital stay, cost of treatment, and overall quality of life of cancer patients.
Keywords