The effect of jaw exercises on anxiety and depression in patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy: Prospective 2‐year follow‐up study. Issue 2 (22nd November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aghajanzadeh, Susan; Karlsson, Therese; Tuomi, Lisa; Finizia, Caterina
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 42:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 330
• Page End: 335
• Publication Date: 2019-11-22
• Subjects: head and neck cancer -- mental health -- quality of life -- radiation therapy -- trismus; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.26012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: This nonrandomized matched study investigates jaw exercise effect on anxiety/depressive symptoms in head and neck cancer patients with trismus during 2 years postradiotherapy. Methods: Fifty patients with trismus postradiotherapy were included in a 10‐week jaw‐training intervention. A matched control group was included (N = 50). Maximum interincisal opening (MIO) ≤ 35 mm was used as the trismus criterion. Patients were assessed using MIO and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale preintervention, postintervention, and at 2‐year follow‐up. Results: A significant difference was found in depressive symptoms between the intervention group and control group (4% vs 33%) at 2‐year follow‐up, with more control group patients reporting possible depression. In the intervention group, significantly fewer patients had possible/probable depressive symptoms at follow‐up (4%) compared to preintervention (34%). No change was seen within the control group. Conclusion: Structured jaw exercise in patients with postradiation trismus had positive effects on MIO and depressive symptoms but does not seem to have any significant effects on anxiety symptoms.