ASSOCIATION OF PREOPERATIVE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION WITH POSTOPERATIVE PAIN AT BACHA KHAN MEDICAL COMPLEX

Abstract

Background: Preoperative psychological distress may alter pain perception and recovery after surgery. This study evaluated the relationship of anxiety and depressive symptoms before surgery with postoperative pain among patients treated at Bacha Khan Medical Complex.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 adults aged 18-65 years who underwent elective procedures under general or regional anesthesia. Anxiety and depression were assessed preoperatively with DASS-based subscales, and pain was recorded after surgery on a 0-10 Visual Analogue Scale. Data were summarized as frequencies, percentages and cumulative percentages.

Results: Extremely severe anxiety was the most frequent anxiety category (46/120; 38.3%), whereas moderate depression was the most frequent depression category in the source table (54 participants; 45.0%). A VAS score of 10 was recorded in 31 patients (25.8%), and the pain-severity table classified 40 patients (33.3%) as having worst pain. The descriptive pattern indicated greater postoperative pain among patients with higher preoperative anxiety. Moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms also occurred in patients reporting higher pain, although the relationship was less consistent.

Conclusion: Preoperative anxiety appeared to be more consistently related to postoperative pain than depression. Screening and targeted psychological support before surgery may strengthen perioperative pain management. Because the available analysis was descriptive and cross-sectional, confirmatory studies with inferential testing are required.