OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to evaluate 1) the presence of psychosocial problems in both ICD patients and their partners, and 2) the relation between psychosocial problems and various clinical variables. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 219 ICD patients and their partners. RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent of the ICD patients, 122 (81%) male, aged 59±12 years, and 62% of their partners, 28 (21%) male, aged 58±11 years, returned the questionnaires. Anxiety, depression or nervousness was reported by 49%, 30% and 52% respectively of the patients and by 36%, 24% and 66% of the partners. In patients, mental health problems were associated with a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.006), younger age (p=0.029), employment (p=0.011), unpleasant experiences from ICD discharges (p=0.032), prior myocardial infarction (p=0.019) and a higher NYHA functional class (p=0.05). Nervousness was more often reported by partners of ICD patients with prior myocardial infarction (p=0.049). Sixty percent of the partners had a need for counselling or support groups. CONCLUSION: Psychosocial problems are present in ICD patients and their partners and are associated with a number of clinical variables. A specific ICD rehabilitation programme should therefore not only be offered to ICD patients but to their partners as well.
OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to evaluate 1) the presence of psychosocial problems in both ICDpatients and their partners, and 2) the relation between psychosocial problems and various clinical variables. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 219 ICDpatients and their partners. RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent of the ICDpatients, 122 (81%) male, aged 59±12 years, and 62% of their partners, 28 (21%) male, aged 58±11 years, returned the questionnaires. Anxiety, depression or nervousness was reported by 49%, 30% and 52% respectively of the patients and by 36%, 24% and 66% of the partners. In patients, mental health problems were associated with a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.006), younger age (p=0.029), employment (p=0.011), unpleasant experiences from ICD discharges (p=0.032), prior myocardial infarction (p=0.019) and a higher NYHA functional class (p=0.05). Nervousness was more often reported by partners of ICDpatients with prior myocardial infarction (p=0.049). Sixty percent of the partners had a need for counselling or support groups. CONCLUSION:Psychosocial problems are present in ICDpatients and their partners and are associated with a number of clinical variables. A specific ICD rehabilitation programme should therefore not only be offered to ICDpatients but to their partners as well.
Authors: C Herrmann; F von zur Mühen; A Schaumann; U Buss; S Kemper; C Wantzen; B D Gonska Journal: Pacing Clin Electrophysiol Date: 1997-01 Impact factor: 1.976