The Impact of Negative Emotions on the Treatment Outcome of Percutaneous Balloon Compression for Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia Patients: A Longitudinal Study

TL;DR

This study shows that negative emotions like depression affect recovery outcomes in patients undergoing a common surgery for facial pain called trigeminal neuralgia.

Contribution

The study identifies specific depressive factors that influence postoperative recovery and quality of life in trigeminal neuralgia patients.

Findings

Depressive symptoms improved after surgery but delayed recovery in some patients.

Higher preoperative pain and longer illness duration were linked to better numbness tolerance post-surgery.

Previous treatments increased the risk of depression and anxiety after surgery.

Abstract

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a common yet severe facial pain condition. Percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) is a widely promoted surgical treatment method for TN due to its simplicity and effectiveness. However, patients who undergo PBC present with varying degrees of depression. This study aims to investigate the depressive factors affecting TN patients following PBC.

Methods: The Penn-FPS Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), BNI Facial Numbness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Life Satisfaction Index-B (LSI-B) scale were used to evaluate depressive symptoms in TN patients before and after PBC, as well as at various time points during a 1-year follow-up. Factors impacting postoperative quality of life (QoL) were identified and evaluated.

Findings: Depressive symptoms improved significantly following PBC treatment; however, the presence of these symptoms could lead to delays in TN recovery. Patients with higher preoperative pain score and longer TN course showed better tolerance of numbness following PB surgery. Meanwhile, the degree of numbness was positively related to the duration of balloon compression, while previous treatments for TN were associated with increased risk of depression and anxiety.

Conclusions: PBC is an effective surgery for TN patients. Depressive disorders impact prognosis and should be carefully managed as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to improve the QoL following PBC.

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