[Evaluation of psychological stress before general anesthesia]

Pre-operative fear is not only a psychologically stressing phenomenon for the patient, but also a considerable risk factor due to its somatical correlative. In a study, 150 patients who were to undergo planned surgery under general anaesthesia were questioned about their fears and worries concerning the anaesthetic. Self-rating scales and rating scales by doctors and a complaints analysis curve were used in addition to an interview system on illnesses and specific previous experiences. 54% of the patients were, according to specific criteria, assessed as being anxious or very anxious (for example diffused anxiety, premature weakening of the anaesthetic effect, worry about not waking up out of the anaesthetic). Several factors which could have an anxiety-lessening or increasing effect and which are of importance for the psychological preparation for an operation were deduced from the investigation.