Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the frequency and pattern of depressive disorders after surgery for acoustic neuroma, and to look for associations. Twenty seven patients with acoustic neuroma underwent thorough psychiatric assessment before surgery and at three and 12 months after surgery. Three patients had a depressive disorder in the preoperative assessment. Of the remaining 24 patients, nine (38%) had a depressive disorder at the three month check up. Deterioration of hearing was the only postoperative detriment associated with a depressive disorder (P = 0·024). All nine patients with a depressive disorder were women (P = 0·001), giving them a 69% incidence. None of the patients without preoperative depression required inpatient treatment for depressive disorder, but three patients out of nine still had a depressive disorder 12 months after surgery.