PREVALENCE OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING ELECTIVE ABDOMINAL SURGERY
Main Article Content
Keywords
Anxiety, Depression, Elective surgery, abdominal surgery
Abstract
Anxiety and depression are common yet often overlooked psychological conditions among patients preparing for elective abdominal surgery. These emotional disturbances can impair perioperative stability, increase postoperative pain, prolong hospital stay, and hinder overall recovery. The lack of routine psychological assessment, particularly in resource-limited settings, contributes to poorer surgical outcomes. Therefore, evaluating preoperative psychological status is essential for improving patient care.
Objectives
To determine the prevalence of preoperative anxiety and depression among patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery and to examine their association with demographic and clinical factors such as age, sex, education level, comorbidities, and previous surgical history.
Methodology
A cross-sectional Study was conducted among 100 adult patients scheduled for elective abdominal procedures. Preoperative anxiety and depression were assessed one day prior to surgery using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Sociodemographic and clinical information was collected, and standard HADS cutoff scores were used to classify anxiety and depression levels. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to evaluate associations by SPSS version 24.
Results
The study included 100 participants with a mean age of 48.5 ± 12 years. Prevalence of preoperative anxiety was 42%, while 35% exhibited symptoms of depression. Anxiety was significantly associated with female sex (p = 0.03), lower educational status (p = 0.04), and a history of previous adverse surgical experiences (p = 0.02). Depression was more common among patients with chronic illnesses, although this association did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusion
Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent among patients awaiting elective abdominal surgery and are influenced by several demographic and clinical factors. Incorporating psychological screening into routine preoperative evaluation may allow early intervention, enhance postoperative recovery, and improve overall surgical outcomes.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
M Nadeem Umar
Dept of Surgery, Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi
Farah Ahmed
Dept of Community Medicine, Wateem Medical College, Rawalpindi
Adnan Saleem Umar
CMH Sialkot, Sialkot Cantt.
Mashaal Nadeem
Wateem Medical College, Rawalpindi
Minahil Nadeem
Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi
M Mowahid Nadeem
Army Medical College, Rawalpindi
