Comorbid depression in patients with head and neck cancer compared with other cancers

Comorbid depression in patients with head and neck cancer compared with other cancers
JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery; Marina C. Martinez; Andrey Finegersh, MD, PhD; Fred M. Baik, MD; F. Chris Holsinger, MD; Heather M. Starmer, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S; Lisa A. Orloff, MD; John B. Sunwoo, MD; Davud Sirjani, MD; Vasu Divi, MD; Michelle M. Chen, MD, MHS; 10/24
This cohort study found that patients with HNC were twice as likely to screen positive for depression on a validated survey than those with other cancers, despite having similar rates of self-reported depression and depression medication use. These findings suggest that self-reporting of depression may result in underreporting and undertreatment in this population and, thus, a need for further work in developing interventions to improve identification of and optimize treatment for patients with HNC and comorbid depression.