Common mental disorders and patient-reported swallowing disorders following total laryngectomy

ABSTRACT Purpose: the aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between patient-reported swallowing disorders and common mental disorders after total laryngectomy. Methods: fourteen patients of both genders and aged 66 ± 8.63 years were assessed after total laryngectomy. They were all asked about the perception of swallowing disorders and answered the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. Patients with swallowing complaints also answered the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory. The mean difference between groups was evaluated using the Mann-Whitney test, with a significance level of 5%. Results: the median of Self-Reporting Questionnaire total score was 3.00 [interquartile range: 0.00-5.00] and did not reflect the presence of common mental disorders. Five volunteers (35.7%) self-reported swallowing disorders and had a worse, although not significant (p = 0.15), performance on the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. The MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory indicated a limitation in the quality of life, with a greater impact of swallowing disorders in the emotional domain [median = 53.30; interquartile range: 33.30-74.95]. Conclusion: common mental disorders are not related to patient-reported swallowing disorders following total laryngectomy. However, patients with swallowing complaints had a negative impact on their quality of life, especially in the emotional domain.