Psychological Resilience in Surgery: Psychobiological Pathways, Clinical Impact, and Perioperative Modulation-A
Giovanni Camardese1,2, Marco Maria Pascale3, Antonio Maria D'Onofrio4
1Department of Life Science, Health, and Health Professions, Link Campus University, 00165 Rome, Italy.
Journal of Personalized Medicine
|April 27, 2026
Summary
Psychological resilience significantly impacts surgical patient outcomes. Enhancing resilience through interventions may improve recovery and personalized perioperative care.
Area of Science:
- Psychoneuroimmunology
- Perioperative Medicine
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Psychological resilience is crucial for surgical stress response but poorly understood in perioperative medicine.
- Current evidence on resilience in surgical populations needs synthesis from a psychobiological viewpoint.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize evidence on psychological resilience in adult surgical patients.
- To explore resilience from a psychobiological and perioperative perspective, including models, measurement, correlates, mechanisms, and interventions.
Main Methods:
- A narrative review of studies on psychological resilience in adult surgical populations.
- Literature search across PubMed, Scopus, and PsycInfo using resilience and surgical/perioperative keywords.
- Qualitative synthesis of evidence on resilience conceptualization, outcomes, mechanisms, and interventions.
Main Results:
- Resilience is a dynamic process influenced by psychological, biological, and social factors.
- Higher resilience correlates with better patient outcomes (quality of life, pain, emotional adjustment, survival).
- Resilient individuals show regulated neuroendocrine and inflammatory responses; interventions show potential benefits.
Conclusions:
- Resilience is a clinically relevant, modifiable factor linking psychosocial status, biological factors, and surgical outcomes.
- Integrating resilience assessment and building strategies into perioperative and ERAS pathways can personalize care.
- Further research is needed to validate tools, clarify mechanisms, and test interventions.
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