Can perioperative psychological interventions decrease the risk of postsurgical pain and disability? A systematic...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Pain Management
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Postsurgical pain is a common complication.
• Psychological factors like emotion and cognition influence pain development.
• Investigating psychological interventions is crucial for improving patient recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of perioperative psychological interventions.
• To assess the impact on acute, subacute, and chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) and disability.
• To identify factors influencing intervention efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
• Searched four major databases: Web of Science, PsychINFO, PubMed, CINAHL.
• Included studies assessing pain and disability outcomes within 3 months and beyond.

Main Results:

• Psychological interventions significantly reduced acute/subacute pain (d = -0.26) and disability (d = -0.43).
• Interventions also reduced chronic postsurgical pain (d = -0.33) and associated disability (d = -0.43).
• Post-surgery interventions and those by psychologists were more effective.

Conclusions:

• Perioperative psychological interventions are effective in managing postsurgical pain and disability.
• Timing and provider type influence intervention success.
• Further research is needed to identify optimal intervention strategies and address data bias.