Abstract
This study examined the effects of patient expectations on short-term postoperative psychological adjustment after surgery Tor epilepsy. Twenty-seven subjects (17 operative, 10 nonoperative controls) agreed to participate. A prospective longitudinal design assessed whether changes in psychosocial functioning had occurred at a mean of 7 weeks after surgery relative to the presurgical assessment. The study also examined the relation between postoperative psychosocial adjustment and preoperative patient expectations. It was found that seizure-free outcomes were associated with significant declines in depression and anxiety. Patients who exhibited preoperative optimistic expectations had lower levels of postoperative depression and anxiety, as long as they were rendered seizure-free. Conversely, those who had optimistic preoperative expectations but were not rendered seizure-free postsurgically continued to exhibit moderate to high levels of depression and anxiety. The theoretical significance of optimistic expectations and their effects on individual self-efficacy arc discussed to support the notion that postsurgical adjustment is related to personal coping, even in those patients who are seizure free after surgery.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change.Psychologycal Review, 84, 101–215.
Chovaz, C., McLachlan, R., Derry, P., & Cumnings, A. (1994). Psychosocial function following temporal lobectomy: Influence of seizure control and learned helplessness.Seizure, 3, 171–176.
Derry, P. A., Chovaz, C. J., MeLachlan, R., & Cummings, A. (1993). Learned resourcefulness and psychosocial adjustment following temporal lobectomy in epilepsy.Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.12, 454–470.
DeVellis, R., DeVellis, B., Wallston, B., & Wallston, K. (1980). Epilepsy and learned helplessness.Basic and Applied Social Psychology.1, 241–253.
Dodrill, C. B., Batzel, L. W., & Fraser, R. (1991). Psychosocial changes after surgery for epilepsy. In H. O. Luders (Ed.),Epilepsy surgery (pp. 661–667) New York: Raven.
Dodrill, C. B., Batzel, L. W., Queisser, H., & Temkin, N. (1980). An objective method for the assessment of psychological and social problems among epilepties.Epilepsta.21, 123–135.
Fenwick, P. (1991). Long-term psychiatric outcome after epilepsy surgery. In H. O. Luders (Ed.),Epilepsy surgery (pp. 647–652). New York: Raven.
Godding, P. R., & Glasgow, R. E., (1985). Self-efficacy and outcome expectations as predictors of controlled smoking status.Cognitive Therapy and Research, 9, 583–590.
Hermann, B. P., Wyler, A. R., Ackerman, B., & Rosenthal, T. (1989). Short-term psychological outcome of anterior temporal lobectomy.Journal of Neurosurgery.71, 327–334.
Jamison, R. N., Parris, W. C., & Maxson, W. S. (1987). Psychological factors influencing recovery from outpatient surgery.Behavioural Research and Therapy.25, 31–37.
Jensen, M. P., Turner, J. A., & Romano, J. M. (1991). Self-efficacy and outcome expectancies: Relationship to chronic pain coping strategies and adjustment.Pain.44, 263–269.
King, D. W., Flarugin, H. F., Gallagher, B. B., So, E. L., Murvin, A. J., Smith, D. B., Oommen, K. J., Feldman, D. S., & Power, J. (1986). Temporal lobectomy for partial complex seizures: Evaluation, results, and J-year follow-up.Neurology.36, 334–339.
Kiyak, H. A., Vilaliano, P. P., & Crinean, J. (1988). Patients’ expectations as predictors of orthognathic surgery oulcomes.Health Psychology.7, 251–268.
Levin, R., Banks, S., & Berg, B. (1988). Psychosocial dimensions of epilepsy: A review of the literature.Epilepsia.29, 805–816.
Maeland, J. G.,& Havik, O. E. (1987), Psychological predictors for return to work after a myocardial infarction,Journal af Psychosomatic Research, 31, 471–481.
Manning, M. M., & Wright, T. L., (1983). Self-efficacy expectancies, outcome expectancies, and the persistence of pain control in childbirth.Journal of Personality ami Social Psychology.45, 421–431.
Naugle, R., Rodgers, D., Slagno, S., & Lalli, J. (1991). Unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy: An examination of psychopalhology and psychosocial behavior.Journal of Epilepsy, 4, 157–164.
Pommer, W., Diederichs, P., Hummel, M., Kralzer, P., Offermann, G., & Molzahn, M. (1985). Patients’ expectations from renal grafting and transplantation outcome.Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic.44, 95–102.
Radloff, L. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population.Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.
Redden, E. M., Tucker, R. K., & Young, L. (1983). Psychometric properties of the Rosenbaum schedule for assessing self-control.Psychological Record.33, 77–86.
Rosenbaum, M. (1980). A schedule for assessing self-control behaviours.Behavior Therapy.11, 109–121.
Rosenbaum, M. (1990). Role of learned resourcefulness in self-control of heal th behavior. In M. Rosenbaum (Ed.).Learned resourcefulness (pp. 21–55). New York: Springer.
Rosenbaum, M., & Palmon, N. (1984). Helplessness and resourcefulness in coping with epilepsy.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 244–253.
Salovey, P., & Birnbaum, D. (1989). Influence of mood on health-relevant cognitions.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.57, 539–551.
Savard, G. (1991), Psychosis and surgery of epilepsy. In H. O. Luders (Ed.),Epilepsy surgery (pp. 461–465). New York: Raven.
Scheier, M. F., & Carver, C. S. (1987), Dispositionäl optimism and physical well-being: The influence of generalized outcome expectancies on health.Journal oj Personality.55, 169–210.
Scott, L. E., Clum, G. A., & Peoples, J. B. (1983). Preoperative predictors of postoperative pain.Pain, 15, 283–293.
Spencer, D. D., & Inserni, J. (1991). Temporal lobectomy. In H. O. Luders (Ed.).Epilepsy surgery (pp. 533–545). New York; Raven.
Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., & Lushene, R. E. (1970). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Ursin, H., & Hytten, K. (1992). Outcome expectancies and psychosomatic consequences. In B. N. Carpenter (Ed.),Personal coping: Theory, research, and application (pp. 171–184). Westport; Praeger.
Wallace, L. M. (1985). Surgical palients’ expectations of pain and discomfort: Does accuracy of expectations minimize post-surgical pain antl distress?Pain, 22, 363–373.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rose, K.J., Derry, P.A. & McLachlan, R.S. Patient expectations and postoperative depression, anxiety, and psychosocial adjustment after temporal lobectomy: A prospective study. Int. J. Behav. Med. 2, 27–40 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm0201_3
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm0201_3