PERSONALITY PREDICTORS OF DIMENSIONS OF PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT AFTERSURGERY

Objective: Although many studies have examined the relationship betwee n personality factors and adjustment after surgery, most of them have had very shea follow-up periods. The present prospective study examine s whether preoperative psychodynamic assessment of personality traits enhances prediction of various areas of psychosocial adjustment assess ed at least 1 year after surgery. Methods: In 53 patients undergoing p elvic pouch surgery for ulcerative colitis, we examined the relationsh ip between personality traits measured before surgery, and postoperati ve psychosocial adjustment assessed at a median of 17 months postopera tively, controlling for the effect of surgical functional outcome. Per sonality traits were assessed with the Karolinska Psychodynamic Profil e (KAPP). Surgical functional outcome scales and the Psychosocial Adju stment to Illness Scale (PAIS) were used. Results: Problems with sexua l satisfaction, perfectionistic body ideals, lack of alexithymia, and poor frustration tolerance predicted poor postoperative adjustment in various areas, beyond what was predicted by surgical functional outcom e alone. Moreover, moderate preoperative levels of alexithymia were be neficial to postoperative adjustment in the area of psychological dist ress. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the preoperative assessme nt of the patient's long-term sexual functioning and satisfaction, the importance attached to his or her appearance, level of alexithymia, a nd general capacity to tolerate frustration and set-backs in Life, mig ht alert both the surgeon and the patient to potential risk factors fo r poor postsurgical adjustment.