A Brief, Early Cognitive-Behavioral Program for Cancer-Related PTSD, Anxiety, and Comorbid Depression

• The HNC-CBT program is for head and neck cancer anxiety and depressive disorders.
• Applying the HNC-CBT protocol concurrent with patients’ medical treatment is outlined.
• A case study with PTSD and comorbid depression shows the utility of the HNC-CBT program.
• Flexibility is warranted in applying the HNC-CBT program to accommodate cancer side effects.

Depression and anxiety disorders, including PTSD, are highly prevalent and frequently co-occur in newly diagnosed head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, as well as in longer-term survivors. There is, however, scant empirical evidence to inform clinicians how to best treat distressed HNC patients, particularly in the initial months following their diagnosis. The present article describes the development of a brief, early cognitive-behavioral intervention (the HNC-CBT program) in treating cancer-related PTSD and/or comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders in recently diagnosed HNC patients. The program was developed to be implemented concurrently with patients’ medical treatment(s) to help individuals manage their acute anxiety and PTSD reactions, as well as prevent chronic psychopathology in the postmedical treatment recovery phase. A case study is also presented to illustrate how to apply this intervention with clinically distressed HNC patients. Feasibility issues are also discussed in the implementation of this program during the course of medical treatment.