Neuroticism in relation to recovery and persisting pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
BACKGROUND
Persisting pain is seen in 20%-30% of patients after cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallbladder stones. The only preoperative factor that seems predictive is psychic vulnerability or neuroticism. Findings with regard to the influence of psychologic factors on recovery are contradictory, too. The aim of the present study was to examine a possible relationship between neuroticism and recovery and the outcome of operation.


METHODS
Ninety-four patients who had had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed were tested psychologically with a Danish psychic vulnerability scale and with the Eysenck Neuroticism Scale before and 1 year after operation. The course of recovery was registered 1 month after operation, and outcome with regard to persisting pain 1 year postoperatively.


RESULTS
No correlations were found between neuroticism scores and postoperative hospital stay or time to regain work/normal activities (P > 0.05). Persisting pain was found in 18% of the patients 1 year after operation. Although the patients with persisting pain had higher neuroticism scores preoperatively, the difference from the patients with successful outcome of the operation first became statistically significant 1 year postoperatively (P < 0.01-0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results do not indicate that neuroticism influences the short recovery process after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. With regard to persisting pain, the higher neuroticism scores in these patients 1 year after the operation could be the consequence of the pain rather than aetiologic factors.
Jess
P
P
Dept. of Surgery, Roskilde County Hospital Køge, Denmark.
Jess
T
T
Beck
H
H
Bech
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010556:Personality Tests; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis