OBJECTIVETo investigate the difference in mental health status of oral tumor patients and their spouses, and explore the differences on the basis of relevant materials.

METHODSForty patients with oral cancer, eighteen spouses, and thirty-five patients with oral benign tumor were diagnosed in the West China Hospital of Stomatology between December 2011 and August 2012 and assessed with symptom checklist-90 (SCL90) (the 5-grade scoring). Participants were assessed independently according to their conditions. Blood samples were obtained from the participants by syringe on the second admission day. A method was developed to determine the concentrations of catecholamine and glucocorticoid in the serum using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS).

RESULTSThe scores for compel, depression and rests in the cancer group and benign tumor group were statistically significant (P<0.05). The scores for compel, dread and stubborn in the cancer group and their spouses were statistically significant (P<0.05). The differences between the total and other monomial factor scores were not statistically significant. However, the contents of epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisone and hydrocortisone in the serum, as determined by HPLC-MS/MS, were significantly different (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONPsychiatric factors do not show a simple factor effect on patients. Symptoms of patients may be based on tumorigenesis and developed in small molecules. Further research is required.