PSYCHIATRIC REACTIONS IN HYSTERECTOMY

50 women undergoing hysterectomy at Smt. Surheta Kriplani Hospital, New Delhi, when compared with age and parity matched 25 control cases on neuroticism and depression scales showed statistically insignificant difference at various points of time. The improvement in both groups was insignificant one week after procedure but became significant after I weeks (p< 0.01). The neuroticism or depression in study cases was hardly attributable to hysterectomy. The marital as well as social adjustments after 4 weeks of procedure were either unchanged or improved. It is emphasized that an attempt should be made to identify the patients who are more prone to get psychiatric disturbance in order to prevent or minimise these psychiatric disturbances.