The interrelation of personality and postoperative factors.

A composite statistical analysis was made of the results from four trials comprising patients undergoing upper abdominal operations. It revealed a marked correlation between the neuroticism score as measured by a personality inventory before operation and the percentage vital capacity impairment found after operation. Neuroticism correlated also with pain as measured by a visual analogue scale. The vital capacity impairment and subjective pain readings were interrelated and both neuroticism and vital capacity impairment were related to the chest complication rate. Personality assessment before operation can identify one group of patients who will have marked pain and limitation of vital capacity after operation.