Abstract
Objective: To determine whether the presence of a stuffed animal on the bedside of a patient undergoing surgery for endometriosis is a sign of depressive disorder or anxiety, and a sign of disease severity.
Methods: This prospective and observational study included 90 women with proven endometriosis undergoing surgical treatment at Tenon University Hospital in Paris, France. During surgery, the abdomino-pelvic cavity was explored to assess the Revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine score and the Enzian score. During the hospitalization, mental health was assessed with a self-questionnaire using the “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale”. Presence of a stuffed animal in the patient’s room was recorded.
Results: Thirty (33.0%) of the 90 women included had a stuffed animal in their room. Chronic pelvic pain was more frequent in the stuffed animal group compared to the non stuffed animal group (p=0.003). No significant difference was observed for pre-operative infertility in the two groups (p=0.62). Global Revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine score and Enzian score were higher in the stuffed animal group (p=0.04 and 0.014 respectively). Total median anxiety and depression scores were higher in the stuffed animal group than in the non stuffed one (p<0.0001) as were isolated median anxiety and depression scores (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The presence of a stuffed animals in the room of a woman hospitalized for endometriosis surgery is a sign of a high risk of developing an anxiety and/or depressive disorder.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Alexandra Arfi, Adrien Crestani, Kamila Kolanska, Stéphane Ploteau, Sonia Zilberman, Tiphaine de Foucher, Sofiane Bendifallah, Cyril Touboul, Anne-Sophie Boudy, Emile Darai