How to Cope With Depression After Surgery

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Having to undergo surgery can be frightening and the recovery process can be painful. It can be a difficult experience for just about anyone.

While some people find that their mood improves if their medical symptoms are better after the surgical procedure, others may develop post-surgical depression, saysJeffrey Zabinski, MD, a consultation-liaison psychiatrist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, who works with medical patients that also need psychiatric care.

In fact, a 2016 study notes thatdepressionis a frequent complication of surgery that can affect the person’s recovery.

This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and effects of depression after surgery, as well as some treatment and prevention strategies that may be helpful.

Symptoms of Depression After Surgery

These are some of the symptoms of depression you may experience after surgery:

Broadly speaking, the symptoms of depression after surgery are not different from symptoms of other types of depression, although certain symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, and irritability may be more pronounced, says Dr. Zabinski.

Causes of Depression After Surgery

These are some factors that can contribute to the development of depression after surgery, according to Dr. Zabinski:

Jeffrey Zabinski, MDDepressive symptoms after surgery don’t necessarily have a specific cause and can happen even when it seems like things are going well. This can be emotionally confusing for patients and their loved ones.

Jeffrey Zabinski, MD

Depressive symptoms after surgery don’t necessarily have a specific cause and can happen even when it seems like things are going well. This can be emotionally confusing for patients and their loved ones.

Effects of Depression After Surgery

Experiencing depression after surgery can affect not only your mental health but also your physical health. Research shows that post-surgical depression is linked to negative outcomes such as:

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Treating Depression After Surgery

Dr. Zabinski shares some treatment and coping strategies that may be helpful if you’re experiencing depression after a surgery:

If you do find that you’re feeling depressed after surgery, it’s important to know that it is transient for most people, Dr. Zabinski says. According to the American Psychiatric Association, depression is among the most treatable of mental health conditions and 80% to 90% of people eventually respond well to treatment.

Preventing Depression After Surgery

If you or a loved one are going to undergo surgery in the near future, Dr. Zabinski suggests some prevention strategies that can help minimize the chances of experiencing depression after the surgery:

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If you or a loved one develop depression after undergoing surgery, it’s important to take it seriously and seektreatmentfor it because it can affect your mental health as well as your physical health. Remember that there are evidence-based treatments and trained professionals who understand what you’re going through that can help you feel better.

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ghoneim MM, O’Hara MW.Depression and postoperative complications: an overview.BMC Surg. 2016;16:5. doi:10.1186/s12893-016-0120-yNational Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Power JD, Kudesia P, Nadeem A, et al.Patterns of depressive symptoms before and after surgery for osteoarthritis: a descriptive study.ACR Open Rheumatol. 2019;1(4):203-212. doi:10.1002/acr2.1031Park S, Kang CH, Hwang Y, et al.Risk factors for postoperative anxiety and depression after surgical treatment for lung cancer.Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2016;49(1):e16-e21. doi:10.1093/ejcts/ezv336Held U, Burgstaller JM, Deforth M, Steurer J, Pichierri G, Wertli MM.Association between depression and anxiety on symptom and function after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):2821. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-06797-1Qin HC, Luo ZW, Chou HY, Zhu YL.New-onset depression after hip fracture surgery among older patients: effects on associated clinical outcomes.World J Psychiatry. 2021;11(11):1129-1146. doi:10.5498/wjp.v11.i11.1129Duerinckx N, Smith PJ, Vanhaecke J, et al.Depressive symptoms at one year after surgery increase the risk of cardiac allograft vasculopathy and mortality in heart transplant recipients: a prospective cohort study.Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2021;71:20-26. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.03.008Tang VL, Cenzer I, McCulloch CE, et al.Preoperative depressive symptoms associated with poor functional recovery after surgery.J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020;68(12):2814-2821. doi:10.1111/jgs.16781National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ghoneim MM, O’Hara MW.Depression and postoperative complications: an overview.BMC Surg. 2016;16:5. doi:10.1186/s12893-016-0120-yNational Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Power JD, Kudesia P, Nadeem A, et al.Patterns of depressive symptoms before and after surgery for osteoarthritis: a descriptive study.ACR Open Rheumatol. 2019;1(4):203-212. doi:10.1002/acr2.1031Park S, Kang CH, Hwang Y, et al.Risk factors for postoperative anxiety and depression after surgical treatment for lung cancer.Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2016;49(1):e16-e21. doi:10.1093/ejcts/ezv336Held U, Burgstaller JM, Deforth M, Steurer J, Pichierri G, Wertli MM.Association between depression and anxiety on symptom and function after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):2821. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-06797-1Qin HC, Luo ZW, Chou HY, Zhu YL.New-onset depression after hip fracture surgery among older patients: effects on associated clinical outcomes.World J Psychiatry. 2021;11(11):1129-1146. doi:10.5498/wjp.v11.i11.1129Duerinckx N, Smith PJ, Vanhaecke J, et al.Depressive symptoms at one year after surgery increase the risk of cardiac allograft vasculopathy and mortality in heart transplant recipients: a prospective cohort study.Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2021;71:20-26. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.03.008Tang VL, Cenzer I, McCulloch CE, et al.Preoperative depressive symptoms associated with poor functional recovery after surgery.J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020;68(12):2814-2821. doi:10.1111/jgs.16781National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Ghoneim MM, O’Hara MW.Depression and postoperative complications: an overview.BMC Surg. 2016;16:5. doi:10.1186/s12893-016-0120-yNational Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Power JD, Kudesia P, Nadeem A, et al.Patterns of depressive symptoms before and after surgery for osteoarthritis: a descriptive study.ACR Open Rheumatol. 2019;1(4):203-212. doi:10.1002/acr2.1031Park S, Kang CH, Hwang Y, et al.Risk factors for postoperative anxiety and depression after surgical treatment for lung cancer.Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2016;49(1):e16-e21. doi:10.1093/ejcts/ezv336Held U, Burgstaller JM, Deforth M, Steurer J, Pichierri G, Wertli MM.Association between depression and anxiety on symptom and function after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):2821. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-06797-1Qin HC, Luo ZW, Chou HY, Zhu YL.New-onset depression after hip fracture surgery among older patients: effects on associated clinical outcomes.World J Psychiatry. 2021;11(11):1129-1146. doi:10.5498/wjp.v11.i11.1129Duerinckx N, Smith PJ, Vanhaecke J, et al.Depressive symptoms at one year after surgery increase the risk of cardiac allograft vasculopathy and mortality in heart transplant recipients: a prospective cohort study.Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2021;71:20-26. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.03.008Tang VL, Cenzer I, McCulloch CE, et al.Preoperative depressive symptoms associated with poor functional recovery after surgery.J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020;68(12):2814-2821. doi:10.1111/jgs.16781National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?

Ghoneim MM, O’Hara MW.Depression and postoperative complications: an overview.BMC Surg. 2016;16:5. doi:10.1186/s12893-016-0120-y

National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.

Power JD, Kudesia P, Nadeem A, et al.Patterns of depressive symptoms before and after surgery for osteoarthritis: a descriptive study.ACR Open Rheumatol. 2019;1(4):203-212. doi:10.1002/acr2.1031

Park S, Kang CH, Hwang Y, et al.Risk factors for postoperative anxiety and depression after surgical treatment for lung cancer.Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2016;49(1):e16-e21. doi:10.1093/ejcts/ezv336

Held U, Burgstaller JM, Deforth M, Steurer J, Pichierri G, Wertli MM.Association between depression and anxiety on symptom and function after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):2821. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-06797-1

Qin HC, Luo ZW, Chou HY, Zhu YL.New-onset depression after hip fracture surgery among older patients: effects on associated clinical outcomes.World J Psychiatry. 2021;11(11):1129-1146. doi:10.5498/wjp.v11.i11.1129

Duerinckx N, Smith PJ, Vanhaecke J, et al.Depressive symptoms at one year after surgery increase the risk of cardiac allograft vasculopathy and mortality in heart transplant recipients: a prospective cohort study.Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2021;71:20-26. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.03.008

Tang VL, Cenzer I, McCulloch CE, et al.Preoperative depressive symptoms associated with poor functional recovery after surgery.J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020;68(12):2814-2821. doi:10.1111/jgs.16781

American Psychiatric Association.What is depression?

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