The effects of psychological factors and physical trauma on recovery from oral surgery

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of several psychological factors on postsurgical recovery while controlling for and also evaluating the effects of the physical trauma induced by the surgery. Subjects were 38 patients (18 males and 20 females) who were scheduled to have four third molars surgically removed. The psychological factors measured included anxiety and expectations about recovery, trait anxiety, coping behaviors, and health locus of control. Surgical trauma was rated after surgery, and the following aspects of recovery were monitored: postoperative pain, interference with normal function, swelling, and healing. Poorer postoperative recovery was significantly predicted by each of the psychological variables and by higher levels of surgical trauma. In addition, the effects of the psychological variables on recovery were shown to be largely independent of the trauma effects. The data suggest that (a) future studies which give patients more positive expectations and reduce their anxiety about recovery may improve their recovery and (b) the types of patients most in need of preoperative psychological support would be those who have higher trait anxiety, vigilant coping behaviors, or an internal locus of control.