Depression and anxiety in mastectomy cases

Abstract

The present research evaluated depression and anxiety in patients undergoing mastectomy during their pre-surgical and post surgical phases. A Pre-Post Research Design was used. Sample consisted of 50 married mastectomy patients, selected from the Surgery Department of Mayo Hospital, Hameed Latif Hospital and Jinnah 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. The mastectomy patients showed greater depression and anxiety (t = 1.68; df = 48; *p < 0.05) in the pre-surgical phase as compared to their post surgical phase probably due to the emphasis on body image and long-term psycho-social and sexual conflicts associated with the loss of this organ. © 2005, Baywood Publishing Co., Inc.