Depressive coping is a predictor for emotional distress and poor quality of life in a German-Austrian sample of cardioverter-defibrillator implant recipients at 3 months and 1 year after implantation.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Depressive coping is a predictor for emotional distress and poor quality of life in a German-Austrian sample of cardioverter-defibrillator implant recipients at 3 months and 1 year after implantation.

AU - Fritzsche, Kurt

AU - Forster, Florian

AU - Schweickhardt, Axel

AU - Kanwischer, Hartmut

AU - Drinkmann, Arno

AU - Rabung, Sven

AU - Bergmann, Günter

AU - Geibel, Annette

AU - Herrmann-Lingen, Christoph

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - OBJECTIVE: The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has been proven to prolong the lives of patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. However, implant recipients must cope with numerous challenges. We studied the effects of specific coping strategies and the adaptability of coping in ICD implant recipients. METHOD: This prospective study investigated the subjective well-being and objective disease course in 180 patients with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, who were recruited while awaiting implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator. Patients completed well-validated self-assessment questionnaires before implantation (T0), as well as 3 months (T1) and 1 year (T2) after implantation. In addition, cardiological findings were documented. RESULTS: Depressive coping (range Beta, -0.36 to -0.58) was found to be a stable highly-significant predictor for low emotional well-being and quality of life. Active problem-oriented coping showed small positive influence (range Beta, 0.10 to 0.19). Employing a broad range of coping strategies was predictive of less emotional distress and better quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive coping is a risk factor for emotional distress and poor quality of life after ICD implantation. Patients with this tendency should be identified early and offered supportive psychotherapy.

AB - OBJECTIVE: The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has been proven to prolong the lives of patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. However, implant recipients must cope with numerous challenges. We studied the effects of specific coping strategies and the adaptability of coping in ICD implant recipients. METHOD: This prospective study investigated the subjective well-being and objective disease course in 180 patients with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, who were recruited while awaiting implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator. Patients completed well-validated self-assessment questionnaires before implantation (T0), as well as 3 months (T1) and 1 year (T2) after implantation. In addition, cardiological findings were documented. RESULTS: Depressive coping (range Beta, -0.36 to -0.58) was found to be a stable highly-significant predictor for low emotional well-being and quality of life. Active problem-oriented coping showed small positive influence (range Beta, 0.10 to 0.19). Employing a broad range of coping strategies was predictive of less emotional distress and better quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive coping is a risk factor for emotional distress and poor quality of life after ICD implantation. Patients with this tendency should be identified early and offered supportive psychotherapy.

M3 - SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz

VL - 29

SP - 526

EP - 536

JO - GEN HOSP PSYCHIAT

JF - GEN HOSP PSYCHIAT

SN - 0163-8343

IS - 6

M1 - 6

ER -