Abstract: Objective To analyze the psychological changes in patients with nasal skull base tumor after endoscopic surgery. Methods Applying the Zung-self-rating anxiety scale(SAS), Zung-self-rating depression scale(SDS), aggression questionnaire(AQ), and empty nose syndrome 6-item questionnaire(ENS6Q), we assessed 62 patients with nasal skull base tumor before surgery, at three months, and a year after surgery. Results The preoperative SAS scores(42.29±9.24)were significantly higher than those of the national normal model, and the postoperative scores at 3 months(38.94±8.08)and a year after surgery(37.74±8.19)(P<0.05). The preoperative SDS scores(46.06±8.03)were higher than those of the national normal model and the postoperative scores at 3 months(43.63±6.72)and a year after surgery(42.94±7.42)(P<0.05). At one year after surgery, the SDS scores of patients with benign tumors(40.59±6.69)were lower than those of patients with malignant tumors(44.74±7.54)(P<0.05). The postoperative ENS6Q scores of patients who underwent turbinectomy were significantly higher than those of patients before surgery(P<0.01). The SAS, SDS, and AQ scores of patients who underwent turbinectomy were not significantly different from the scores of patients with turbinate preservation before and after surgery(P>0.05). Conclusion The patients with nasal skull base tumor obviously experienced anxiety and depression. Psychological care and interventions should be provided to them.

Key words: Skull base tumor, Nasal neoplasms, Psychology, Anxiety, Depression, Empty nose syndrome