Abstract
Psychosomatic aspects of patients with chronic sinusitis during pre-and post-operative periods were studied by sending questionnaires to a total of 54 sinusectomized patients, 38 males and 16 females ranging in age from 13 to 62.
The questionnaires were designed to collect data on psychosomatic factors in the patients using CMI (Cornell Medical Index), MAS (Modified Taylor Anxiety Scale) and STAL (State-Trait Anxiety Index).
The pre- and post-operative results in sinusectomized patients were compared with the results on subjects without chronic sinusitis which were reported by Samejima in 1973 and 1975.
The present study revealed that:
1) Anxiety in patients with chronic sinusitis appears greater than that in normal subjects.
2) Mean STAI A-state scores were much higher prior to surgery than after surgery. The degree of postoperative decline in A-state was unrelated to severity of the disease the type of surgery performed, surgical history or to age of patients.
3) STAI A-trait scores were essentially the same pre-and postoperatively.
The results of this study lead us to conclude that psychosomatic consideration should be given to the patients with chronic sinusitis particularly when surgical treatment is performed.
