The psychological condition of the patients in the waiting period of surgical heart valve replacement surgery under extracorporeal circulation

The paper presents the results of psychological study of mental and emotional status of patients in cardiac surgery department before heart valve replacement surgery. The basis of study was a suggestion, that state of waiting and an uncertain outcome, which patient feel before the surgery, can provoke the improvement of neurotic, anxiety and phobic disorders that can adversely affect the course of disease. The study revealed that the majority of patients during the waiting for surgery have the elevated level of anxiety, depression and stress. Study ascertains the presence of existential and inner problems that appear in low comprehension of life and low self-esteem. The research found that during the waiting period for surgery patients more often respond with amplification of the defense mechanisms such as “denial”, “regression”, “reactive formation”. The paper reveals the correlations between indicators of personal characteristics and psychopathology, and also between anxiety and defense mechanisms of patients. As a conclusion paper concretize the ways of psychological support and correction of psychological and emotional state of patients during the waiting period for prosthetic heart valves surgery.