NEUROTICISM IN RELATION TO RECOVERY AND PERSISTING PAIN AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Background: Persisting pain is seen in 20%-30% of patients after chole cystectomy for symptomatic gallbladder stones. The only preoperative f actor that seems predictive is psychic vulnerability or neuroticism. F indings with regard to the influence of psychologic factors on recover y are contradictory, too. The aim of the present study was to examine a possible relationship between neuroticism and recovery and the outco me of operation. Methods: Ninety-four patients who had had a laparosco pic cholecystectomy performed were tested psychologically with a Danis h psychic vulnerability scale and with the Eysenck Neuroticism Scale b efore and 1 year after operation. The course of recovery was registere d 1 month after operation, and outcome with regard to persisting pain 1 year postoperatively. Results: No correlations were found between ne uroticism scores and postoperative hospital stay or time to regain wor k/normal activities (P > 0.05). Persisting pain was found in 18% of th e patients 1 year after operation. Although the patients with persisti ng pain had higher neuroticism scores preoperatively, the difference f rom the patients with successful outcome of the operation first became statistically significant 1 year postoperatively (P < 0.01-0.05). Con clusions: The results do not indicate that neuroticism influences the short recovery process after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. With regard to persisting pain, the higher neuroticism scores in these patients 1 year after the operation could be the consequence of the pain rather than aetiologic factors.