The literature on pre-surgical psychological interventions designed to improve psychological adjustment to and recovery from surgery, as well as increase cost-effectiveness, is reviewed. Three broad classifications of interventions (information-based interventions, behaviorally-oriented interventions, and insight-oriented interventions) are discussed based on previous studies aimed at demonstrating the utility of each approach. Limitations of the research in this area are presented and recommendations are made for effective implementation of pre-surgical interventions.
The relationships of illness variables (demographic, illness-quality, treatment, lifestyle, and interpersonal) to the eight coping styles as measured by the Millon Behavioral Health Inventory were investigated in 38 adult patients with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon, to identify coping styles important in managing this condition. Patients with ulcerative colitis were studied because this patient group has not demonstrated a characteristic personality profile and because the nature of the symptoms and disease pattern requires these patients to develop a long-standing coping style. Twelve significant correlations were found and explanations were proposed. The possibility that psychological treatment could alter illness variables and result in a more adaptive coping style was discussed with a suggestion for further investigation.
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