This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Donald S. Kornfeld, MD; Stanley S. Heller, MD; Kenneth A. Frank, PhD; Reed Moskowitz, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1974;31(2):249-253.

Abstract
One hundred forty-two patients were observed through their openheart surgery experiences. Preoperative psychiatric ratings and psychological tests of personality were obtained as well as physical and operative data. Twenty-five percent developed a postcardiotomy delirium following a lucid interval and 6% an immediate organic brain syndrome apparent immediately on awakening from anesthesia.

It was suggested that postcardiotomy delirium be viewed as a psychosomatic syndrome. There was evidence that beyond the influence of physical and operative variables, a high degree of psychological activity and dominance may contribute to delirium. Further, a group seen by the research team had half the delirium incidence of a comparable group not seen, suggesting that such intervention has a prophylactic-therapeutic function. Prior investigations showing a relationship between delirium and physical and operative variables were confirmed.

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Jan 21, 1974.

Reprint requests to the Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032 (Dr. Kornfeld).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Dexmedetomidine and the Reduction of Postoperative Delirium after Cardiac Surgery
Maldonado et al.
Psychosomatics 2009;50:206-217.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Intensive Care Unit Syndrome: A Dangerous Misnomer
McGuire et al.
Arch Intern Med 2000;160:906-909.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Postoperative Delirium: A Review of 80 Primary Data-Collection Studies
Dyer et al.
Arch Intern Med 1995;155:461-465.
ABSTRACT  

Analogical Reasoning and Postoperative Outcome: Predictions for Patients Scheduled for Open Heart Surgery
Willner et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1976;33:255-259.
ABSTRACT