In a multicenter cross-sectional study of 106 spouses of laryngectomized patients differences between spouses with a mental disorder and spouses without were analyzed. The probability of occurrence was mainly related to relationship factors: Spouses, who reported a better quality of their relationship with the patient (OR=0.77; 95% CI: 0.631-0.939; p=0.010), whose sexual desire was not diminished in response to their partner's disease (OR=0.077; 95% CI: 0.011-0.527; p=0.009) and who had no problems in dealing with the tracheostomy (OR=0.062; 95% CI: 0.006-0.619; p=0.018) presented a mental disorder less frequently. The cross-sectional nature of this study does not allow conclusions regarding causality. The results should be reappraised in a longitudinal study. However, the findings suggest that patients with laryngectomy and their families should be also offered couple interventions besides individual counseling.
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