Depression and anxiety in patients undergoing hysterectomy

ABSTRACT

The present research evaluated depression and anxiety in patients undergoing hysterectomy during their pre-surgical and post surgical phases. A Pre-Post Research Design was used. This study has carried out at Department of Gynaecology Lady Wellington Hospital Lahore Pakistan Sample consisted of 50 hysterectomy patients, selected from the Gynaecology Department of Lady Wellington Hospital of Lahore, Pakistan. Each subject was individually administered Depression Scale and Anxiety Check-List twice; that is 1-7 days before and 1-7 days after surgery. All the hysterectomy patients seemed to experience more depression [t=-2.55;df=48;*p<0.05] and anxiety [t= -5.74;df=48;*p<0.05] during their post-surgical phase as compared to their pre-surgical phase, probably due to the psychosocial and cultural misconceptions and biased attitudes attached to "loss of uterus" in Pakistani society where a woman's status and role primarily revolves around her reproductive capacity. Women undergoing hysterectomy experience more depression and anxiety in post-surgical phase probably due to the psychosocial and cultural misconceptions and biased attitudes attached to "loss of uterus" in Pakistani society where a woman's status and role primarily revolves around her reproductive capacity