Effects of anaesthesia on the psychological function of patients

The psychological effects of halothane, methoxyflurane, combined analgesic-relaxant anaesthesia, and epidural anaesthesia were assessed before one, and seven days after anaesthesia in 72 patients having operations for varicose veins. Subjective anxiety evaluation (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale) and personality tests of self-appraisal (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) as well as of superficial (Wartegg's test) and profound (Rorschach's test) projection showed no significant differences among these methods of anaesthesia. Performance tests measuring memory for designs (modified Graham-Kendall memory for designs), short-term memory (digit span of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale), learning (nonsense word series), perception (symmetry-drawing), speed of observation (Bourdon-Wiersma) and visualization also revealed no significant psychological changes compared to the control (epidural anaesthesia) group. The methods of anaesthesia used therefore showed no harmful psychological effects and are in this respect safe in clinical use.