On psychopathological and dynamic survey of cardiovascular surgeons’ perioperative stress coping

Abstract

Psychopathology of cardiovascular surgeons is being paid attention to non-technical skills of surgeon are being recognized as essential parts of safe performance of cardiovascular operations. Questionnaires were sent to board-certified cardiovascular surgeons in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Questionnaires consisted of Quick Inventory of Depression Symptomatology and an original inventory focusing on perioperative surgeons stress coping developed by us. Twelve surgeons (46.2%) responded. Quick Inventory of Depression Symptomatology showed nobody who needed psychiatric intervention. An original inventory showed hypomania in 25% surgeons, which was thought to be advantageous in performing safe and swift operations, and the inventory showed immature defense mechanism in another 25%. Board-certified cardiovascular surgeons in Gunma Prefecture were free from major depression. Some were in hypomania state, which favored operation. The majority was using a mature defense mechanism and properly acquired cognitive ability to cope with intraoperative stress.