The Influence of Anxiety and Depression on Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients

The Influence of Anxiety and Depression on Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients: a Prospective Observational Cohort Study

This is a prospective, observational cohort study aimed to explore the influence of anxiety and depression to long term survival in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is endemic in Southern China and Southeast Asia. Radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy are the mainstays of therapy for NPC because these tumors are biologically highly radiosensitive and chemosensitive. Anxiety and depression symptoms were common psychological symptoms around the time of cancer diagnosis and were often persistent during cancer treatment. Psychological symptoms are associated with prolonged hospital stays, lower quality of life, and worse treatment adherence among patients with cancer. Depressive symptoms have been demonstrated to predict early mortality among patients with some kinds of cancer. But among NPC patients, the influence of anxiety and depression symptoms to long term survival have not be explored. Therefore, this prospective, observational cohort study aimed to explore the influence of anxiety and depression to long term survival in NPC patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with newly histologically confirmed non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma, including WHO II or III
• Age between 18-70
• Male and no pregnant female
• Patient have signed on the informed consent, and well understood the objective and procedure of this study

Exclusion Criteria:

• The presence of uncontrolled life-threatening illness
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Patient with severe medical condition