RESEARCH ON THE PSYCHOSOCIAL-ASPECTS OF H EAD AND NECK-CANCER SURGERY(EXCEPT LARYNGECTOMY) .2. ANALYSIS OF EMPIRICAL-STUDIES

The available literature on the psychosocial aspects of head and neck cancer surgery from 1950 to 1995 was reviewed in four parts. Part 2 is an analysis of 76 empirical studies. Many interesting but isolated fi ndings were uncovered and almost no connecting theories or controversi al discussions. Missing basic information and generally poor reliabili ty and validity reduce the comparability of the studies to a low level . Investigations of certain topics are absent, such as the effect of a ntidepressants and tranquilizers or the influence of rehabilitative as sistance by physiotherapists, speech-pathologists, nutritional counsel lors, social workers, psychologists and family doctors.