[Influence of the grade of anxiety and level of cortisol on post-surgical recovery].
BACKGROUND
The objective is to analyze the influence of several biological and/or psychological factors on postsurgery recovery.


METHODS
Our sample was made up of 42 inpatients waiting for surgery. The day before the intervention, they filled out Spielbergers' State/Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and sample of saliva was collected at 8:00 in order to determine cortisol concentration. Recovery was codified as <<good>> or <<poor>> using the Moix criteria (1995).


RESULTS
Patients with higher scores on the STAI had higher levels of salivary cortisol and their recovery was worse compared with patients with low anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm the relationship between specific psychological variables, cortisol levels and the characteristics of the surgery recovery process of the patients.
Ramos
M I
MI
Departamento de Farmacología y Psiquiatría, Universidad de Extremadura Badajoz.
Cardoso
M J
MJ
Vaz
F
F
Torres
M D
MD
García
F
F
Blanco
G
G
González
E M
EM
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D003289:Convalescence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006854:Hydrocortisone