P Salmon1, G M Hall. 1. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, Whelan Building, P.O. Box 147, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L69 3GB, UK. psalmon@liv.ac.uk
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To test the theory that postoperative fatigue is an aspect of the emotional, not physiological, response to surgery, we examined whether fatigue is a component of subjective experience after surgery and whether it is related to subjective physical or emotional state. METHODS: Patients (N=160) undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty were assessed preoperatively, 1 and 7 days and 1 and 6 months postoperatively using multiple indicators of fatigue and subjective emotional and physical state. Covariance structure modeling was used to find out the structure of patients' experience on each occasion. RESULTS: At each time, data indicated four latent variables: negative mood, positive mood, dysfunction and pain. Scales measuring fatigue indicated negative or positive mood but were unrelated to dysfunction and pain. DISCUSSION: In surgical patients, the language of fatigue and energy describes empirically distinct components of emotional state. Explanations for postoperative fatigue should therefore be sought in emotional, not physiological, mechanisms.
OBJECTIVE: To test the theory that postoperative fatigue is an aspect of the emotional, not physiological, response to surgery, we examined whether fatigue is a component of subjective experience after surgery and whether it is related to subjective physical or emotional state. METHODS:Patients (N=160) undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty were assessed preoperatively, 1 and 7 days and 1 and 6 months postoperatively using multiple indicators of fatigue and subjective emotional and physical state. Covariance structure modeling was used to find out the structure of patients' experience on each occasion. RESULTS: At each time, data indicated four latent variables: negative mood, positive mood, dysfunction and pain. Scales measuring fatigue indicated negative or positive mood but were unrelated to dysfunction and pain. DISCUSSION: In surgical patients, the language of fatigue and energy describes empirically distinct components of emotional state. Explanations for postoperative fatigue should therefore be sought in emotional, not physiological, mechanisms.