[Reduction of preoperative anxiety. A study comparing music, Thalamonal and no premedication].

Ninety ASA I-II patients scheduled for a pre-planned surgical operation were randomly assigned to three groups: the first of these received no premedication, the second received 1-2 ml Thalamonal i.m., and the third were offered music from a walkman via earphones. Excluded from the study were patients under 15 and over 65 years of age, patients suffering from malignant diseases, those expecting operations of uncertain outcome, and patients whose mother tongue was not German. All 90 patients were cared for by the same investigator. She obtained informed consent on the eve of the scheduled operation and chose the music that was to be offered preceding the operation according to the patient's wishes. Each patient's history was evaluated, including the grade of anxiety and his or her attitude towards music. Of course, a physical examination was also conducted. Ninety minutes prior to the operation, psychometric tests (STAI-G-X2, STAI-G-X1, ESA-S, and BF-S) were performed. Thereafter, either music was offered or else 1-2 ml Thalamonal was injected, according to the random assignment: group 1 received neither. Fifteen minutes before entering the operating room, the tests expressing anxiety with regard to the situation were repeated as was the physical examination, and the investigator once again assessed the level of anxiety of the patients. On the evening of the day of surgery, all patients were asked to give an evaluation of the preoperative period. Trait-anxiety, as measured by the STAI-G-X2-Test, was comparable in all groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)