A Smoking, Alcohol, and Depression Intervention for Head and Neck Cancer

Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registry indicates that head and neck cancers (HN Ca) are nearly twice as common in veterans as non-veterans. HN Ca patients are at an increased risk for smoking, alcohol consumption and depression, all of which contribute to a further decline in their quality of life (QoL). In the HN Ca population, diagnosis and treatment of smoking, alcohol intake and depression are sub-optimal, thereby affecting QoL and survival. Numerous studies have documented that smoking, alcohol and depression are interrelated and research on multi-modal interventions has been suggested.

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

Head and Neck Cancer patients who: 1) screen positive for at least one of the three health problems of smoking, alcohol and depression; 2) are not pregnant; 3) are greater than 18 years of age; and 4) speak english. Exclusion criteria include patients who: 1) have metastatic disease (terminal); or 2) have unstable psychiatric/mental conditions such as suicidal ideation, acute psychosis, severe alcohol dependence or dementia.

Exclusion Criteria:

• RESULTLambert MT, Terrell JE, Copeland LA, Ronis DL, Duffy SA. Cigarettes, alcohol, and depression: characterizing head and neck cancer survivors in two systems of care. Nicotine Tob Res. 2005 Apr;7(2):233-41. doi: 10.1080/14622200500055418. PMID 16036280
• RESULTTaylor JC, Terrell JE, Ronis DL, Fowler KE, Bishop C, Lambert MT, Myers LL, Duffy SA, Bradford CR, Chepeha DB, Hogikyan ND, Prince ME, Teknos TN, Wolf GT; University of Michigan Head and Neck Cancer Team. Disability in patients with head and neck cancer. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Jun;130(6):764-9. doi: 10.1001/archotol.130.6.764. PMID 15210560
• RESULTCheng SS, Terrell JE, Bradford CR, Ronis DL, Fowler KE, Prince ME, Teknos TN, Wolf GT, Duffy SA. Variables associated with feeding tube placement in head and neck cancer. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006 Jun;132(6):655-61. doi: 10.1001/archotol.132.6.655. PMID 16785412
• RESULTTerrell JE, Ronis DL, Fowler KE, Bradford CR, Chepeha DB, Prince ME, Teknos TN, Wolf GT, Duffy SA. Clinical predictors of quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Apr;130(4):401-8. doi: 10.1001/archotol.130.4.401. PMID 15096421
• RESULTDuffy SA, Terrell JE, Valenstein M, Ronis DL, Copeland LA, Connors M. Effect of smoking, alcohol, and depression on the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2002 May-Jun;24(3):140-7. doi: 10.1016/s0163-8343(02)00180-9. PMID 12062138
• RESULTDuffy SA, Jackson FC, Schim SM, Ronis DL, Fowler KE. Racial/ethnic preferences, sex preferences, and perceived discrimination related to end-of-life care. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006 Jan;54(1):150-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.00526.x. PMID 16420213
• RESULTDuffy SA, Ronis DL, Valenstein M, Fowler KE, Lambert MT, Bishop C, Terrell JE. Depressive symptoms, smoking, drinking, and quality of life among head and neck cancer patients. Psychosomatics. 2007 Mar-Apr;48(2):142-8. doi: 10.1176/appi.psy.48.2.142.