A recent study by Offerman et al. from the Netherlands evaluated the psychosocial impact of a total laryngectomy (TL) on
the patient and their partners. The study (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25631352
) surveyed 151 laryngectomees and
their partners inquiring about their quality of life. A variety of psychosocial
problems are reported by partners of laryngectomees, such as mood disorder,
feelings of hopelessness, fear for losing their life companion and caregiver
burden.
The investigators found that a considerable number of partners of laryngectomees
experience a psychosocial impact of the consequences of the TL, specifically on
their social life (35%) and on their sexual relationship (31%). Also, the
tendency of other people to neglect their laryngectomized life companion,
affects more than half of the partners negatively. Clinical levels of anxiety
and depression were found in around 20% of the partners. TL has a negative effect on the sexual functioning for more than 30% of both
laryngectomees and their partners, the communication for about one fifth of both laryngectomees
and partners, and the feelings of dependency of the partner for one third of the
laryngectomees.
The
authors recommended that health care professionals should screen not only the
patients but also their partners for need of support to deal with sexuality and
intimacy.
