Psychological distress and nutritional status in head and neck cancer patients: a pilot study

To determine whether the psychological state of patients with head and neck cancer (HCN) is associated with their nutritional status.

In 40 patients with locally advanced HNC treated with definitive or adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy, psychological and nutritional status were assessed before treatment, at its completion and 3 months' post-therapy. Psychosocial distress was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire (HADS-A, HADS-D), whereas the nutritional status was evaluated using standard methods (Nutritional Risk Screening Tool 2002, anthropometric data, dynamometry and laboratory tests) and with a bioelectrical impedance analysis parameter phase angle (PA).

Before treatment, more patients were screened positive for anxiety than at treatment completion (p = 0.037) or 3 months' post-therapy (p = 0.083). Depression prevalence was non-significantly higher at the end and after therapy. Compared to the baseline, more cachectic patients and a reduction of PA values were found at successive assessments. Anxiety was more often recorded among malnourished/cachectic patients (assessment 1, p = 0.017; assessment 2, p = 0.020) who were also found more frequently depressed (assessment 2, p = 0.045; assessment 3, p = 0.023). Significantly higher PA values were measured in patients without distress determined at 3 months' post-therapy by the HADS-A (p = 0.027).

The association between the psychological and nutritional status found in this pilot study and the options for intervention warrants further clarification in a larger prospective trial.