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Published on: January 5, 2018
Mood state as a predictor of neuropsychological deficits following cardiac surgery
M J Andrew1, R A Baker, A C Kneebone
1Cardiac Surgical Research Group, Department of Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Adelaide, Australia.
Objectives:
mood disorders and neuropsychological deficits are both commonly reported occurrences after cardiac surgery. We examined the relationship between mood state and postoperative cognitive deficits in this population.
Methods:
assessments of neuropsychological functions and mood state (depression, anxiety, stress scales; DASS) were performed preoperatively and postoperatively on 147 patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Results:
the incidence of preoperative depression, anxiety, and stress symptomatology was 16%, 27%, and 16%, respectively. The incidence of postoperative anxiety symptomatology significantly increased to 45% (p<0.001), while the incidence of depression and stress symptomatology remained stable (19% and 15%, respectively; ns). Changes in mood state did not influence changes in neuropsychological performance. Preoperative mood was a strong predictor of postoperative mood, and was related to postoperative deficits on measures of attention and memory.
Conclusions:
an assessment of preoperative mood is critical in identifying patients at risk of postoperative mood disorders and neuropsychological deficits. Measures assessing somatic manifestations of anxiety may not be suitable for a surgical population.
