Psychological factors as a prediction of success in duodenal ulcer surgery.

An attempt was made to relate the outcome of surgery to psychosocial factors in an unselected series of 30 male patients with duodenal ulcer. Though statistically significant differences did not emerge on the psychosocial parameters studied, patients with good surgical results were less likely to give histories of preoperative anxiety or depression or to show evidence of these at interview. They also had lower ratings on Hamilton Rating and Deprivation Scales, and were more likely to have hopeful expectations of operation and positive attitudes towards previous medical treatment. Patients with psychiatric illness or psychological deprivation having sugery for chronic duodenal ulceration, can expect almost as good a surgical result as those without these difficulties. They are unlikely to show increased psychiatric morbidity, postoperatively.