Anxiety and depression among the patients with frequent implantable cardioverter-defibrillator discharges.

We examined 16 patients, aged 24 to 73, with ICD. Condition of qualification to the examined group was experiencing many discharges (from 25 to above 200) or electric shock (3 or more discharges following one after another). Most of the patients (14) were afraid of ICD discharges. 11 patients presented psychopathological symptoms: 7 anxiety disorders (3 patients who underwent storm presented acute and posttraumatic stress disorders) and 4 depression. Some actions for reduction of risk of psychopathological disorders in patients experienced ICD discharges should be taken: performing RF ablation as soon as possible after first shocks and creation of the system of psychological and psychiatric help for patients with ICD.