title: Psychological preparation for surgical patients.
abstract: The prospect of surgery normally evokes anxiety, which, given the idiosyncracies of human nature, will be experienced differently by different individuals. This article examines some of the theoretical considerations of stress in general, proceeds to a discussion of stress as it is experienced by patients facing surgery, then examines the clinical application and benefits of psychological preparation of surgical patients.
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012947:Social Work; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000523:psychology*