QoL and dyadic adjustment related to psychiatric morbidity in oral cancer patients and wives

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To assess quality of life (QoL) and psychiatric morbidity in successfully treated oral cavity squamous cell cancer patients and their wives. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 31 patients together with their wives were assessed by questionnaires referring to QoL, physical complaints, symptoms of anxiety and depression. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders was assessed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). RESULTS: Considerably high global QoL both in patients and wives were detected. No significant difference between the mean scores of 4 domains of the QoL was found between patients and wives. In patients, lower QoL was associated with more physical complaints (social eating, swallowing, and pain) and higher levels of psychological distress; whereas in wives, QoL was found to be related to levels of psychological distress. In the M.I.N.I., a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety disorders, was found in wives (38.7%); but was lower in patients (16.2%). Patients and wives diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder reported significant lower QoL. CONCLUSION: Social eating, swallowing and sexuality in patients and psychiatric disorders in wives seem to be strongly related to global QoL. The high prevalence of anxiety disorders in wives should alert clinicians and health care community. In individuals reporting an impaired global QoL surgical improvement of somatic problems and treatment of psychiatric disorders should be addressed