Psychiatry and Psychology Commons^™

Comorbidity Profile Of Head And Neck Cancer Patients With And Without Depression, Michaela Frenzel

Capstone Experience

This population-based retrospective study used SEER-Medicare data from 2002-2010 to assess depression, comorbidity, and substance use in the elderly head and neck cancer population. Out of 3,533 head and neck cancer patients, 10.6% had depression diagnoses two years prior to cancer diagnosis, 8.9% were newly diagnosed with depression within one year after cancer diagnosis, and 44.5% of those with preexisting depression had an additional depression diagnosis within one year following cancer diagnosis. Comorbid conditions (p<0.0001) and substance use (p=0.0017) showed associations with depression prior to cancer diagnosis yet, no significant associations with incidence of depression in this head and neck cancer population. This study affirms the need for continual depression screenings in head and neck cancer patients and suggests the need for increased research into the burden of comorbid conditions and substance use within the head and neck cancer population.

Are Nurses High Risk For Experience With Behavioral Health Problems?, Farrah Alayne Thornsberry

DNP Projects

Abstract

Behavioral health problems impact approximately 19% of the United States population and nurses are not exempt from these experiences. In fact, nurses may be at higher risk for developing a behavioral health issue than the general public. The purpose of this study was to identify specific demographic, work-related, and behavioral variables associated with substance use and personal experience with any mental and or behavioral health problems among nurses in an academic healthcare system. Being female, younger in age, higher level of education and increased use of alcohol were risk factors associated with self-reported experience with behavioral health problems. Additionally, …