Objectives: To identify correlates of psychological distress and to investigate how coping skills, anxiety and depression are related in a group of head and neck cancer patients 6-12 months after their diagnosis. Methods: We evaluated in 107 head and neck cancer patients their anxiety and depression levels using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and their Coping strategies using the Ways of Coping Checklist. Results: There were statistically significant associations between gender and anxiety level, and between living arrangements, cancer site, time since treatment, tumor stage and depressive symptoms. Results also showed that patients used a variety of coping strategies. Different coping strategies were used in subjects with high versus those with low levels of anxiety or depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Data show several correlates of psychological distress in head and neck cancer patients. They also suggest that coping strategies of these patients vary according to their level of psychological distress.

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