Caregiver-reported neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer: a pilot study.

Background: Patients with cancer experience multiple neuropsychiatric symptoms. Whereas individual symptoms have been studied in patients with head and neck cancer, the broader context of neuropsychiatric symptoms needs to be explored.

Objective: The aims of this pilot study were to (a) determine the caregiver-reported prevalence and severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with head and neck cancer, (b) determine the associated level of caregiver distress, and (c) describe the effects of neuropsychiatric symptoms on patients and their caregivers.