Exploring preoperative expectations and postoperative outcomes in adults who have undergone deep brain stimulation surgery
Authors
McGetrick, Ruth
Issue Date
2024
Degree
Higher Diploma in Psychology
Publisher
Dublin Business School
Rights holder
Rights
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore the pre-surgical expectations of adults undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery for a neurological disorder and what the psychosocial and wellbeing impacts experienced by this population are afterward. Participants were six individuals who underwent DBS in the past five years. The study was qualitative in nature and conducted through semi-structured interviews. Data from the interview transcripts was analysed and coded in NVivo and used to generate themes related to the two distinct time periods pre- and post-surgery. Broad themes identified pre-DBS are the participants life limiting circumstances and their personal hopes and expectations related to the surgical outcome, while those evident post-DBS include the transformative nature of the experience and the impacts of rehabilitation and recovery, rediscovering life, and psychological outcomes. This study supports the identification of a key relationship between realistic, optimistic expectations and positive psychosocial outcomes. It should be noted that no negative experiences were captured potentially due to the pre-screening that took place through the recruitment process.