@Article{, title={Pre-operative anxiety in patients undergoing different types of surgeryComparative study}, author={Abdul-Rasoul Al-Yasiri*,}, journal={Journal of the Faculty of Medicine Baghdad مجلة كلية الطب}, volume={50}, number={3}, pages={340-345}, year={2008}, abstract={Background: Major life changes are among many factors that cause emotional arousal and
anxiety ,and one of these changes is surgery. emotional reactions to surgery have specific
effects on the intensity and velocity as well as the process of physical disease and on the
general state of wellbeing of the patient.
Aims: This study is aimed at determining the relationship between the nature, extent and
severity of preoperative anxiety and different types of surgery.
Methods: 150 patients 84 males 68 females awaiting different types of surgery at Al-Kindy
teaching hospital at the period from 1st
January to 1st
July 2008 were assessed for a clinically
detected preoperative anxiety in relation to different variable including sex, age, type of
surgery ,severity and the main fears related to the operation. Using general health
questionnaires ( GHQs ) followed by semi-structured interview based on DSM-IV
classification, and then mental state examination.
Results: The study indicated that preoperative anxiety is common and is more in females,
more in patients in their thirties and forties,it is in excess and is more sever in cardio-thoracic
and gastro-intestinal tract surgery and is at its lowest level and severity in ophthalmology and
ENT surgery. so also the fear of death is associated more with cardio-thoracic and GIT
surgery. Females had more anxiety in all types of surgery except cardio-thoracic surgery which
is more in males.
Conclusions: Prevalence of Preoperative anxiety is high and represents over 2/3 of the sample
and is more in rate and severity in surgery with uncertain outcome or being considered as
more risky by patients.
Recommendations: The need for further studies on the effects of this anxiety on the post
operative course and outcome, and the need for the training of paramedical staff in surgical
wards on preoperative anxiety and ways of its intervention.

} }