J Endocr Surg.  2018 Dec;18(4):219-227. 10.16956/jes.2018.18.4.219.

Causal Attributions, Social Support and Psychological Morbidity in Patients Undergoing Thyroid Surgery

• Yıldırım NK
• Özçınar B
• DoÄŸan S
• Aksakal N
• Sahbaz NA
• Tutal F
• Torun BC
• Özkan M
• Erbil Y

• KMID: 2429809
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.16956/jes.2018.18.4.219

Abstract

PURPOSE
The primary objective of the present study was to investigate the course of anxiety and depression in thyroidectomy. The second objective was to investigate the association between somatic symptoms and psychological symptoms, and the final objective was to identify the sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors that affect psychiatric morbidity.
METHODS
This prospective study, 101 patients who were admitted to the Endocrine Surgery Clinic of the Department of General Surgery, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, University of Istanbul, with thyroid pathology were included in the study. Data were collected before surgery, and in the early, and late periods after surgery. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview form, a visual analogue scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
RESULTS
The average scores of anxiety and depression before surgery were statistically significantly higher compared with the early and late periods after surgery (P < 0.001). Psychological morbidity was identified about 10% of patients before surgery and remained after thyroidectomy. A poor positive correlation founded between somatic symptoms and psychological condition in period surgery (P < 0.05). Various sociodemographic features and psychosocial parameters affected anxiety and depression level (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Anxiety and depression level in thyroid diseases decreased after thyroidectomy. These patients may express psychologic distress through somatic symptoms. Screening of psychological morbidity is suggested in patients planned thyroid surgery, especially in women, low-educated, inadequate social support, attributed to psychological causes.

Keyword

Thyroidectomy; Anxiety; Depression; Social support; Disease attributes

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Depression
Disease Attributes
Female
Humans
Mass Screening
Pathology
Prospective Studies
Psychology
Thyroid Diseases
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroidectomy

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