Demographic Disparities in Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety and Depressive Disorders in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Background

The associations between head and neck cancer (HNC) and anxiety and depression are well-known, but knowledge regarding the association between demographic factors and rates of diagnosis and treatment for these disorders among HNC survivors is incomplete.

Methods

This retrospective study utilized propensity score matching to compare rates of selected new anxiety and/or depressive disorder diagnoses among HNC survivors and treatment of those disorders by sex, race, ethnicity, and language.

Results

Results suggested lower likelihood of anxiety and/or depressive disorder diagnosis among individuals of male sex, and any minority, African American, Asian, and Other race, while diagnosis rates were higher among native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders. Treatment with pharmacotherapy was less likely among individuals of male sex, any minority and African American Asian race, Hispanic ethnicity, and Spanish language.

Conclusions

This study suggests that mental health diagnosis and treatment among HNC survivors may be inequitable, although further research is necessary to confirm these associations and understand underlying mechanisms.