Development of depression in patients with oral cavity cancer: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: The incidence of oral cancer is approximately 300,000 patients annually. A cancer diagnosis and treatment affect both physical and mental issues.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to examine the development of depression in patients who have been treated for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Material and methods: PubMed and EMBASE were systematically searched for studies addressing depression among patients treated for OSCC and published within the past ten years.

Results: We identified three studies comprising 528 patients (range: 75-349), primarily men (66-83%), treated for OSCC from Europe and India. Tumour stage, treatment modality, and scales used to evaluate depressive symptoms varied in the studies. The European studies showed that 28% of the patients experienced depressive symptoms on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a mean of 8.0 on depression in the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). The Indian study showed a significant increase (p Value < .001) from moderate to severe depressive symptoms on the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21).Conclusion and Significance: This systematic review showed that OSCC patients are at risk of developing depressive symptoms after treatment, though severity of symptoms varied. This knowledge could preferably be implemented in future follow-up regimes.

Keywords: OSCC; Systematic review; after treatment; depression; depressive symptoms; oral cavity cancer; oral squamous cell carcinoma.