The Level of Emotional Dysadaptation in Patients with Cerebral Meningiomas at the Stage of Preparation for Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Relevance. Stereotactic radiosurgery is the method of choice for asymptomatic cerebral meningiomas of small size. The psychoemotional state of patients diagnosed with cerebral meningioma for whom indications for stereotactic radiosurgery have been determined is poorly understood. The study of a real traumatic situation, the assessment of the level of emotional maladaptation of patients and the identification of factors contributing to its development are an important task for clinical psychology and neurosurgery. The Aim of Study. To assess the level of emotional maladaptation in patients with cerebral meningiomas at the stage of preparation for stereotactic radiosurgery. Material and Methods. The sample consisted of 57 patients aged 30 to 85 years with cerebral meningiomas. Psychological diagnostics was performed before stereotactic radiosurgery at the Radiosurgery Center of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Joint Venture. The following techniques were used: Holland’s modified “Distress Thermometer” technique, PCL-5, Beck depression scale, Spielberger-Khanin anxiety scale. Computer processing of the results was carried out in IBM SPSS Statistics 23. Results. A high level of situational anxiety was revealed on the eve of stereotactic radiosurgery in 32% and personal anxiety in 42% of patients. Symptoms of depression of varying severity were detected in 44% of patients. Moderate severity of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in 19%, high in 4%. A high level of situational anxiety on the eve of surgery is twice as common in young patients as in the elderly (44% versus 22% in the elderly). Conclusion. In patients with cerebral meningioma, at the stage of preparation for stereotactic radiosurgery, manifestations of emotional maladaptation are noted, expressed by symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, high levels of subjectively perceived stress, situational and personal anxiety. The subjective assessment of the level of perceived stress and situational anxiety on the eve of stereotactic radiosurgery is influenced by the age of patients.