What is perioperative anxiety?

Perioperative anxiety refers specifically to the feelings of apprehension and distress that patients experience before undergoing surgical procedures. This type of anxiety can arise from uncertainties regarding the outcome of the surgery, the potential risks involved, or general fears related to medical interventions.

Patients may worry about the surgical process itself, the anesthesia, potential pain, and post-operative recovery, which can lead to an increased stress response. Understanding that perioperative anxiety primarily pertains to the preoperative period is crucial, as it allows healthcare professionals to identify and implement appropriate interventions to help alleviate these anxieties, thus improving overall patient outcomes.

In contrast, anxiety that occurs during surgery or is solely related to the recovery phase does not fall under the definition of perioperative anxiety, as the term specifically focuses on the preoperative experience. Additionally, while anesthesia can indeed induce various feelings and responses, it is not the cause of perioperative anxiety, which is centered around a patient's anticipatory feelings prior to undergoing surgery.