[The preoperative mental state]

In four studies psychological and psychophysiological correlations to anesthesiologically important factors were investigated. The most important preoperative emotions are anxiety, depression and asthenia. These emotions are part of the preoperative stress response. It was investigated which factors are correlated to these emotions and how these emotions correlate to physiological parameters, important in anesthesia. Sex, age, the quality of former experience of anesthesia and suffering of a chronic disease influence the degree of preoperative emotional stress. Cancer or the suspect of cancer increase preoperative anxiety. The preoperative psychological state correlates to blood pressure, heart rate and P-cortisol as well as to complications in anesthesia. There are two psychophysiological risk groups: Patients in a bad psychological state and patients in a good psychological state. Patients in the mean group have the best prognosis. Differences depending on the emotions anxiety depression and asthenia are described and discussed.