Anxiety and depression in head and neck out-patients

To investigate the prevalence of psychological distress in head and neck out-patients. We used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to screen 106 patients for mood disorders in a London head and neck ENT out-patient clinic. Queen's Hospital, Romford, UK. One hundred and six patients attending a head and neck out-patient clinic. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score. Approximately 39 per cent of patients had a possible anxiety disorder (10 per cent were rated as severe), and 27 per cent had possible depression (10 per cent were rated as severe). We recommend that a member of the head and neck multidisciplinary team should be trained to identify and correctly refer psychologically distressed patients to appropriate existing psychiatric services.