Depression, anxiety and quality of life among scheduled cosmetic surgery patients: multicentre prospective study

Objective: To measure cosmetic surgery patients' state of psychological vulnerability. Method: A multicentre prospective study was carried out in three hospital departments. One hundred and three patients scheduled for cosmetic surgery were examined using a structured interview and using three assessment scales: the MADRS (Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale), the SISST (Social Interaction Self Statement Test) and the EQ-5D (EuroQol) which measures quality of life. Results: The MADRS index was higher than that of the control group (p<0.01) with 20% depressive patients. SISST: the social anxiety was greater than that of the control group (p<0.001). The EQ-5D visual analogue scale average was 77.39% indicating that there was no significant difference when compared with the control group, but the descriptive EQ-5D revealed an over-representation of the anxiety/depression category (p<0.01); 50% had already taken psychotropic treatment of which 27% were an antidepressant. Conclusion: The cosmetic surgery population presents a significant state of psychological vulnerability. Copyright 2001 European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery.