title: Trait anxiety predicts outcome 6 weeks after cholecystectomy. A prospective follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A substantial group of patients with gallstone disease experience negative outcome after surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). Early identification of these patients is important.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to identify predictors (clinical symptoms and trait anxiety) of negative symptomatic outcomes at 6 weeks after cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients (n = 133), 18-65 years, with symptomatic gallstone disease, completed symptom checklists and the state-trait anxiety inventory preoperatively and at 6 weeks after cholecystectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High trait anxiety was the only predictor of persistence of biliary symptoms at 6 weeks after cholecystectomy (OR = 6.88).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to clinical symptoms, high trait anxiety is a predictor of negative symptomatic outcome at 6 weeks after cholecystectomy. Trait anxiety should be evaluated to aim at a patient-tailored approach in gallstone disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases, Tilburg University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marlies C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Roukema
authors.forename: Vincent P W
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Scholtes
authors.forename: Jolanda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Vries
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D042882:Gallstones / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057566:Self Report; D016896:Treatment Outcome