Meaghan Ferguson1, Adrienne H Kovacs2. 1. Graduate Program in Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2. Toronto Congenital Cardiac Centre for Adults, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. akovacs@uhnresearch.ca.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: North American adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk of mood and anxiety disorders, although there are no published data on psychological treatment. In order to provide guidance to adult CHD (ACHD) programs considering the integration of psychological care, the aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive description of a specialized ACHD psychological service. DESIGN: At a large tertiary hospital, a retrospective review of 100 ACHD clinic patient psychology files was performed. The following data were abstracted: sociodemographic and medical background, presenting psychological concerns, and the course and outcome of psychological intervention. RESULTS: Of 100 patients, the mean age was 33 ± 11 years and 51% were female. Prevalent psychological concerns were generalized anxiety (82%), health-/heart-related anxiety (71%), depressed mood (60%), and difficulty coping with a medical condition (49%); 65% of patients met diagnostic criteria for a mood or anxiety disorder. Following assessment, individual psychotherapy was offered to 87 patients, of whom 75 opted to proceed with treatment. The median number of psychotherapy sessions was 8 and treatment most frequently included cognitive therapy (92%), relaxation skills training (57%), and communication skills training (46%). Of 64 patients for whom a course of psychotherapy had ended at the time of data abstraction, 54 (88%) had reduced or absent psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced psychological distress can be achieved among adults with CHD who receive targeted psychological intervention. Consistent with the emerging field of behavioral cardiology, other ACHD programs as well as general cardiovascular programs are encouraged to integrate cardiac psychology services in order to provide comprehensive patient care.
OBJECTIVE: North American adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk of mood and anxiety disorders, although there are no published data on psychological treatment. In order to provide guidance to adult CHD (ACHD) programs considering the integration of psychological care, the aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive description of a specialized ACHD psychological service. DESIGN: At a large tertiary hospital, a retrospective review of 100 ACHD clinic patient psychology files was performed. The following data were abstracted: sociodemographic and medical background, presenting psychological concerns, and the course and outcome of psychological intervention. RESULTS: Of 100 patients, the mean age was 33 ± 11 years and 51% were female. Prevalent psychological concerns were generalized anxiety (82%), health-/heart-related anxiety (71%), depressed mood (60%), and difficulty coping with a medical condition (49%); 65% of patients met diagnostic criteria for a mood or anxiety disorder. Following assessment, individual psychotherapy was offered to 87 patients, of whom 75 opted to proceed with treatment. The median number of psychotherapy sessions was 8 and treatment most frequently included cognitive therapy (92%), relaxation skills training (57%), and communication skills training (46%). Of 64 patients for whom a course of psychotherapy had ended at the time of data abstraction, 54 (88%) had reduced or absent psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced psychological distress can be achieved among adults with CHD who receive targeted psychological intervention. Consistent with the emerging field of behavioral cardiology, other ACHD programs as well as general cardiovascular programs are encouraged to integrate cardiac psychology services in order to provide comprehensive patient care.
Authors: Christina E Holbein; Nicholas D Fogleman; Kevin Hommel; Silke Apers; Jessica Rassart; Philip Moons; Koen Luyckx; Maayke A Sluman; Junko Enomoto; Bengt Johansson; Hsiao-Ling Yang; Mikael Dellborg; Raghavan Subramanyan; Jamie L Jackson; Werner Budts; Adrienne H Kovacs; Stacey Morrison; Martha Tomlin; Kathy Gosney; Alexandra Soufi; Katrine Eriksen; Corina Thomet; Malin Berghammer; Luis Alday; Edward Callus; Susan M Fernandes; Maryanne Caruana; Samuel Menahem; Stephen C Cook; Gwen R Rempel; Kamila White; Paul Khairy; Shelby Kutty; Gruschen Veldtman Journal: Congenit Heart Dis Date: 2018-01-03 Impact factor: 2.007
Authors: Matthew R Carazo; Meghan S Kolodziej; Elizabeth S DeWitt; Nadine A Kasparian; Jane W Newburger; Valeria E Duarte; Michael N Singh; Alexander R Opotowsky Journal: J Am Heart Assoc Date: 2020-04-28 Impact factor: 5.501
Authors: Tim Halling; Steffen Akkermann; Friederike Löffler; Adrian Groh; Ivo Heitland; Walter Emil Haefeli; Johann Bauersachs; Kai G Kahl; Mechthild Westhoff-Bleck Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2021-11-24 Impact factor: 4.157
Authors: Steffen Akkermann; Tim Halling; Friederike Löffler; Ann S Silber-Peest; Tillmann Krüger; Stefan Bleich; Johann Bauersachs; Kai G Kahl; Mechthild Westhoff-Bleck Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2022-03-17 Impact factor: 4.157
Authors: Vincent J Gonzalez; Rachel T Kimbro; Katherine E Cutitta; John C Shabosky; Mohammad F Bilal; Daniel J Penny; Keila N Lopez Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2021-01-04 Impact factor: 7.124