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Association between depression and survival or disease recurrence in patients with head and neck cancer enrolled in a depression prevention trial
Author(s) -
Lazure Kathryn E.,
Lydiatt William M.,
Denman David,
Burke William J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.21046
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , medicine , head and neck cancer , hamd , randomized controlled trial , citalopram , cancer , placebo , physical therapy , antidepressant , significant difference , alternative medicine , pathology , hippocampus , economics , macroeconomics
Abstract Background. To determine if depression portends a worse prognosis in patients with head and neck cancer, we conducted a retrospective chart analysis of subjects who participated in a randomized placebo‐controlled trial of citalopram for the prevention of depression during head and neck cancer treatment. Thirty‐five patients were randomized, 34 with 1 or more evaluations form the basis of this report.Methods. We used the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), with a minimum follow‐up of 24 months if no evidence of disease, or until recurrence or death from disease.Results. Fourteen of 34 subjects were depressed at any time during the 16 week RCT (HAMD >15). Seven of the 14 subjects in the depressed group were dead from disease or had recurrence, compared to 4 of 20 who never developed depression ( p = .03). Stage of disease was equivalent in the 2 groups.Conclusion. This study suggests that depression in patients with head and neck cancer reduces survival. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009