Psychoemotional state of patients receiving anticancer treatment requires doctor's attention in association with larger depth and persistence of formed mental disturbances.

To carry out screening assessment of mental state of patients with head and neck cancers being at various stages of treatment.

Investigated group consisted of 34 patients of Head and Neck Cancers Department (24 men, mean age 52 ± 6,7 and 10 women, mean age 52 ± 6,7). Number of patients having stage I of disease has constituted - 6 persons (17,4%), stage II - 8 persons (23,6 %), stage III - 13 persons (38,3 %) and stage IV - 7 persons (20,7 %). Screening of depressive disorders was conducted with Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18).

High general index of psychopathological symptoms (GSI ≥ 0,63) was revealed in 12 persons (35,3%) of investigated group. Also, we observed simultaneous increase of clinically significant indices of anxiety and depression in 19 persons (55, 9%). We have conducted comparison of obtained indices among groups of newly admitted patients (group 1, n = 15) and patients receiving combined treatment associated with relapse of the process (group 2, n = 19). Incidence rate of clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety has constituted 23,08 % (n = 3), in group 2 - 76,92% (n = 10) and was reliably higher (p = 0,04730).

Methodological use of specific diagnostic tools gives a possibility of comparison data in various cohorts. Screening assessment of mental state of patients at various stages of treatment allows planning of further therapeutic and rehabilitative tactic.