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Depression and Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Diagnostic Investigations for Head and Neck Cancers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

A. D. M. Davies ,
C. Davies  and
M. C. Delpo
A. D. M. Davies*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX
C. Davies
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX
M. C. Delpo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX
*
Correspondence
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Extract

Patients attending a regional head and neck Oncology Unit were assessed for depression and anxiety (using the Leeds self-assessment scales) before diagnostic biopsy investigations. At the time of the assessments, neither patients nor investigators knew the biopsy results. Patients whose biopsies subsequently proved positive (showing the presence of a tumour) had significantly higher depression scores than those whose biopsies were negative. Differences in mean anxiety scores did not differ between groups. It is suggested that depression is part of the clinical picture of head and neck cancer.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 149 , Issue 4 , October 1986 , pp. 491 - 493
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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