Impact of psychological variables on wound healing and postoperative surgical complications.

*In brackets are the references of the studies. An association was considered significant if p≤05. ±Demented relative-induced stress [24] and perceived life stress [19], [20] were considered equivalent to trait anxiety. Worry about the surgery [15], [16], [19] and exam-induced stress [23] were considered equivalent to state anxiety.**Significant association of psychological factors with at least one aspect of wound healing or complications.aState anger and anxiety were found to have no impact on clinical outcome (apart from complications) in this study.bState anxiety and perceived stress were associated with some, but not all, markers of wound healing.cReaction to cold pressor test was significantly associated with postoperative complications.dOnly prolonged ventilation (out of 7 complications) proved to have significant association.eIntervention was associated with less wound erythema, but not overall wound inflammation.