DEPRESSION AFTER SURGERY FOR ACOUSTIC NEUROMA

The purpose of this study was to establish the frequency and pattern o f depressive disorders after surgery for acoustic neuroma, and to look for associations. Twenty seven patients with acoustic neuroma underwe nt thorough psychiatric assessment before surgery and at three and 12 months after surgery. Three patients had a depressive disorder in the preoperative assessment. Of the remaining 24 patients, nine (38%) had a depressive disorder at the three month check up. Deterioration of he aring was the only postoperative detriment associated with a depressiv e disorder (P = 0.024). All nine patients with a depressive disorder w ere women (P = 0.001), giving them a 69% incidence. None of the patien ts without preoperative depression required inpatient treatment for de pressive disorder, but three patients out of nine still had a depressi ve disorder 12 months after surgery.