Anxiety and anxiety reduction in surgical patients
Although anxiety may reasonably be associated with any surgical procedure, the degree of anxiety may vary considerably because of associated factors, and at least two important factors are the nature of the operation and the relationship of the patient to the surgeon.
Abstract
Anxiety indicates an anticipation of danger, the source of which may be unknown.’ The medical profession has always known that emotional reactions and disturbances of varying degrees may accompany surgical procedures: and anxiety itself has been emphasized as a significant delaying factor in surgical recovery.34 It is likely that anxiety causes disruptive postoperative physiological changes, since the mental attitude of the patient prior to a serious operation seems to have a significant effect on both the patient’s ability to tolerate the procedure and on his postoperative c o ~ r s e . ~ Although anxiety may reasonably be associated with any surgical procedure, the degree of anxiety may vary considerably because of associated factors. At least two important factors are the nature of the operation and the relationship of the patient to the surgeon. When surgery involves cancer or an