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Psychological factors in postoperative fatigue
G James Rubin1, Anthony Cleare, Matthew Hotopf
1Section of General Hospital Psychiatry, Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry and Guy's, King's and St. Thomas' School of Medicine, King's College London, London, UK. g.rubin@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Psychosomatic Medicine
|November 27, 2004
Summary
Postoperative fatigue is influenced by psychological factors like negative mood and expectations, with somatization being key early on. Cognitive-behavioral factors and physical deconditioning impact later recovery.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Medicine
- Rehabilitation
Background:
- Postoperative fatigue is a common patient complaint.
- The underlying causes of this fatigue are not fully understood.
- Potential contributing factors include psychological elements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of somatization and cognitive-behavioral factors in postoperative fatigue.
- To identify predictors of self-reported fatigue after surgery.
Main Methods:
- 183 patients completed questionnaires pre-surgery and at 2 days, 3 weeks, and 6 months post-surgery.
- Multiple regression analysis was used to identify predictive factors.
- Controlled for preoperative fatigue, demographics, and surgical variables.
Main Results:
- Negative mood significantly correlated with fatigue throughout follow-up.
- Fatigue expectations predicted subsequent fatigue levels.
- Belief in physical activity and cardiovascular deconditioning influenced later fatigue.
Conclusions:
- Psychological factors significantly contribute to the development of postoperative fatigue.
- Somatization appears important in early recovery, while cognitive-behavioral factors and deconditioning are more relevant later.
- Targeting psychological and physical factors may improve postoperative recovery.