PROPOFOL AND METHOHEXITONE ANESTHESIA - EFFECTS ON THE PROFILE OF MOOD STATE

The influence on mood of anaesthesia by infusion with propofol or meth ohexitone was evaluated in 80 female patients assessed with the Profil e of Mood State preoperatively and at 30 min, 1, 2 and 4 h after anaes thesia. Patients given propofol were more elated and continuously less anxious than those given methohexitone from 1 to 4 h after anaesthesi a (54.3, SEM 1.1 vs. 50.7 SEM 1.2). They also felt more agreeable afte r 2 h (45.4 SEM 1.4 vs. 48.4 SEM 1.2). All patients felt more tired an d more confused post-operatively than pre-operatively. Propofol has di fferent and more favourable influences on the post-operative mood stat e than does methohexitone.