Anxiety and subjective quality of life preoperatively and 4 months after reduction mammaplasty.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of anxiety, psychological distress, and subjective quality of life on the basis of the criteria of satisfaction and expectations in a group of women who had undergone reduction mammaplasty for cosmetic reasons.


METHODS
The population consisted of 20 women who had requested breast reduction treatment [mean age, 34.70 (+/-10.94)] for cosmetic reasons. After being informed of the purpose of the study and after giving their written consent, the subjects took part in a psychological examination conducted at two different times (T1, initial medical consultation; T2, 4 months after surgery). At each of these stages, the psychological evaluation consisted of a clinical interview and questionnaires: the Subjective Quality of Life Profile, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the General Health Questionnaire.


RESULTS
The results showed that the subjects improved significantly between T1 and T2 in terms of state anxiety (P=.04), trait anxiety (P=.002), sleeping disorders (P=.003), difficulty in enjoying their activities (P=.008), and a number of dimensions of subjective life quality: pain (P=.009), physical appearance (P=.003), social life (P=.03), and inner life (P=.03). The study showed that satisfaction with treatment was correlated with satisfaction with medical relations (P=.05) and medical information (P=.05) at T1 and with greater satisfaction with friendship relations (P=.05), sexual relations (P=.05), and inner life (P=.05) after the operation (P=.01). Conversely, a greater level of anxiety at T3 was correlated with reduced satisfaction with the surgical treatment (P=.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the importance of evaluating surgical and cosmetic treatment in terms of psychological dimensions and emphasizes the improvement in psychological well-being during the postoperative phase.
Chahraoui
Khadija
K
Laboratoire de Psychologie Clinique et Sociale de l'Université de Bourgogne, Service de Chirurgie Maxillo-faciale, Chirurgie plastique et chirurgie de la main, CHU de Dijon, 21000 Dijon, France. Khadija.Chahraoui@u-bourgogne.fr
Danino
Alain
A
Bénony
Hervé
H
Frachebois
Cécile
C
Clerc
Anne Sophie
AS
Malka
Gabriel
G
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000523:psychology*; D017533:Marital Status; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*