Psychiatric conditions in patients with recurrent unexplained syncope.
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Psychiatric conditions in patients with recurrent unexplained syncope. / Ventura, Rodolfo; Maas, Renke; Rüppel, R; Stuhr, U; Schuchert, A; Meinertz, T; Nienaber, C A.
In: EUROPACE, Vol. 3, No. 4, 4, 2001, p. 311-316.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychiatric conditions in patients with recurrent unexplained syncope.
AU - Ventura, Rodolfo
AU - Maas, Renke
AU - Rüppel, R
AU - Stuhr, U
AU - Schuchert, A
AU - Meinertz, T
AU - Nienaber, C A
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - AIMS: The relationship between syncope and psychiatric disorders is little investigated. This study evaluated the prevalence of psychiatric diseases and prognostic outcome in patients with recurrent unexplained syncope. METHODS AND RESULTS: After an inconclusive standard diagnostic work-up for syncope, including head-up tilt testing, a psychiatric evaluation was offered to 50 consecutive patients with recurrent syncope. The evaluation was accepted by 26 patients (77% females, 36 +/- 16 years) and refused by 24 (63% females, 50 +/- 19 years). A psychiatric disorder was diagnosed in 21 (81%) patients: 12 had depression, four panic attacks, two general anxiety, and three a somatization disorder. Only five patients showed normal psychosocial function. Of the patients with psychiatric disorders four accepted psychiatric care, such as psychotherapy and/or pharmacotherapy; 17 patients refused treatment. During 6 months of follow-up no patient under psychiatric care had syncope, while all patients without psycho- or pharmacotherapy had recurrent syncopal events. In these patients the median of syncopal episodes was three in a 6 months interval before and after clinical assessment. Patients who refused both psychiatric evaluation and therapy continued to experience syncope as before. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with recurrent unexplained syncope psychiatric alteration is common. However, patients seldom accepted a psychiatric evaluation and treatment.
AB - AIMS: The relationship between syncope and psychiatric disorders is little investigated. This study evaluated the prevalence of psychiatric diseases and prognostic outcome in patients with recurrent unexplained syncope. METHODS AND RESULTS: After an inconclusive standard diagnostic work-up for syncope, including head-up tilt testing, a psychiatric evaluation was offered to 50 consecutive patients with recurrent syncope. The evaluation was accepted by 26 patients (77% females, 36 +/- 16 years) and refused by 24 (63% females, 50 +/- 19 years). A psychiatric disorder was diagnosed in 21 (81%) patients: 12 had depression, four panic attacks, two general anxiety, and three a somatization disorder. Only five patients showed normal psychosocial function. Of the patients with psychiatric disorders four accepted psychiatric care, such as psychotherapy and/or pharmacotherapy; 17 patients refused treatment. During 6 months of follow-up no patient under psychiatric care had syncope, while all patients without psycho- or pharmacotherapy had recurrent syncopal events. In these patients the median of syncopal episodes was three in a 6 months interval before and after clinical assessment. Patients who refused both psychiatric evaluation and therapy continued to experience syncope as before. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with recurrent unexplained syncope psychiatric alteration is common. However, patients seldom accepted a psychiatric evaluation and treatment.
M3 - SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz
VL - 3
SP - 311
EP - 316
JO - EUROPACE
JF - EUROPACE
SN - 1099-5129
IS - 4
M1 - 4
ER -