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Psychological Prehabilitation Boosts Patients' Postsurgical Outcomes

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on March 26, 2025.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, March 25, 2025 -- Psychological prehabilitation may improve four postoperative outcomes: reduced length of stay (LOS), pain, anxiety, and depression, according to a review recently published online in the Annals of Surgery.

Ann E. Hall, from University of California Los Angeles, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression to assess the effect of psychotherapy prehabilitation on the four postoperative outcomes of LOS, pain, anxiety, and depression.

Based on 20 included articles (2,376 patients), the researchers found that psychological prehabilitation interventions included cognitive behavioral therapy (70 percent), supportive psychotherapy (25 percent), and acceptance and commitment therapy (5 percent). In a pooled analysis, interventions were associated with greater reductions in LOS (mean difference [MD], −1.62 days), pain (MD, −3.52), anxiety (standard mean difference [SMD], −1.51), and depression (SMD, −1.48). With the exception of anxiety, there were no significant differences in results by psychotherapy modality and surgery type.

"While additional research is needed to assess the differential effects of varying modalities and methods of delivery, the integration of structured psychological interventions into preoperative care represents a promising avenue for improving surgical outcomes," the authors write. "Further studies are necessary to compare different types, duration, and delivery methods of psychotherapy for specific postoperative outcomes of interest."

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Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

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Posted March 2025

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