Unwillingly traumatizing: is there a psycho-traumatologic pathway from general surgery to postoperative...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Surgery

Background:

• Psychological, psychiatric, and psychosomatic issues can hinder surgical adaptation.
• Interpersonal trauma and its effects are increasingly linked to patient adaptation during surgery.
• Surgery's violation of physical boundaries can trigger posttraumatic symptoms in trauma survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review findings on psychological trauma's impact on surgical adaptation.
• To identify patient subgroups experiencing adaptive difficulties related to surgery.
• To explore the link between psychological trauma and general surgery outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Topical review of existing research findings.
• Analysis of studies on total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and other surgeries.
• Examination of psychotraumatologic principles and psychodynamics.

Main Results:

• A subgroup of surgical patients struggle with tension and confiding, impacting adaptation.
• Psychopathologic distress and posttraumatic distress are prevalent before and after various surgeries (e.g., cardiac, cancer, hernia).
• Psychological trauma aspects correlate with outcomes in general surgery (biliary, hernia, appendix).

Conclusions:

• Psychological trauma significantly influences surgical outcomes.
• Mechanisms include anxiety, negative affect, and unconscious psychological defenses.
• Preoperative screening for trauma is recommended to identify at-risk surgical candidates.