The P3-model of perioperative psychological preparation: Pre-surgical and pre-medical procedural psychological preparation and psychophysiological interventions

Abstract

Applied psychophysiological and psychological interventions can support successful post-surgical outcomes among patients who undergo surgical or medical procedures. However, more translational research is needed to extend the current understandings and practices of evidence-based and evidence-informed behavioral interventions to improve the outcomes of surgical and medical procedures. As healthcare becomes increasingly integrative, biopsychosocial oriented practitioners (e.g., health psychologists, neuropsychologists, pain psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses) will play an integral role with surgical and interventional professionals (e.g., neurosurgeons, bariatric surgeons, anesthesiologist, transplant surgeons, interventionalist, radiologist). These roles include pre-surgical evaluations, identifying pre-emptive concerns and implementing behavioral interventions, which ultimately act to improve the outcome of the surgery or medical procedure. In this paper, the authors 1) review the status of the broader practice of perioperative behavioral interventions; 2) review the pre-surgical and pre-procedural behavioral risk factors and translate psychophysiological and behavioral interventions to optimize post-surgical and post-procedural outcomes; and 3) provide a general framework (P3-Model) that can be used in a perioperative practice to carry out pre-surgical and pre-procedural behavioral interventions. Specifically, the role of behavioral and biofeedback interventions in the preparation of patients who are undergoing surgeries and medical procedures will be detailed. Psychological preparation that addresses pre-surgical and pre-medical procedure behavioral risk factors help perioperative healthcare providers and patients to have maximal post-operative success.