Psychological prehabilitation improves surgical recovery outcomes

A new study from UCLA Health shows that psychological prehabilitation can improve recovery after surgery. The analysis reviewed 20 trials with 2,376 patients, focusing on mental health's role in recovery alongside traditional physical prehabilitation. The research found that psychological prehabilitation significantly reduces hospital stays by an average of 1.62 days, and lowers pain, anxiety, and depression levels after surgery. The type of psychotherapy used did not greatly impact the outcomes, except for anxiety. These findings suggest that adding psychological support before surgery could enhance patient recovery and lower healthcare costs. Further research is needed to explore the best methods and types of psychotherapy for different surgical outcomes.