Negative and positive influences of social support on depression in patients with head and neck cancer: A prospective study

Patients with head and neck cancer have to cope not only with a life threat ening diagnosis, but also with an altered facial appearance and the loss or impairment of important functions as a result of treatment. As a consequen ce they are prone to psychosocial problems. Social support might influence their ability to adapt to the illness and its treatment. The aim of this prospective study is to examine the influence of different aspects of social support on the depressive symptomatology in head and neck cancer patients treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy. Patients complet ed a questionnaire relating to available and received support, the extent o f the social network, depressive symptoms, and general health complaints be fore and 6 months after treatment. Received support was found to be associa ted with more depressive symptomatology at baseline and available support l ed to less depressive symptomatology. The relationship between social suppo rt and depressive symptoms was especially apparent in patients with few gen eral health complaints. Whereas the availability of support seemed to be be neficial regardless of the situation, the effect of received support was eq uivocal. The provision of support should be tailored to the needs of the in dividual patient. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.