Shocks, personality, and anxiety in patients with an implantable defibrillator

Background: Studies have examined the relationship between shocks and anxiety, but little is known about the role of personality. Our aim was to examine the determinants of self-reported and interviewer-rated anxiety following implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation.
Methods: At baseline, that is, 0–3 weeks following ICD implantation, 308 ICD patients (82% men, mean age = 62.6 years) completed the DS14 (Type D personality) and ASI (anxiety sensitivity). The STAI (self-reported symptoms of state-anxiety) was assessed at baseline and follow-up, which was 2 months following ICD implantation. At this follow-up, the HAM-A interview (interviewer-rated anxiety) was assessed in a subsample (57%); the occurrence of ICD shocks was deduced from medical records.
Results: Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for repeated measures showed a significant interaction effect between time and shocks (F = 9.27, P = 0.003) with patients who had experienced a shock experiencing higher levels of self-reported anxiety at follow-up. The main effects of Type D personality (F = 33.42, P < 0.0001) and anxiety sensitivity (F = 66.31, P < 0.0001) were significant, indicating that these patients scored higher on self-reported anxiety across time points. Multivariable linear regression analyses yielded Type D personality (β= 0.18, P = 0.021) and anxiety sensitivity (β= 0.19, P = 0.016), but not shocks, as independent predictors of interviewer-rated anxiety. Covariates included gender, marital status, education, age, ICD indication, cardiac history, and comorbidity.
Conclusions: Type D personality and anxiety sensitivity were independent predictors of both self-reported and interviewer-rated anxiety outcomes while ICD shocks were related to an increase in levels of self-reported anxiety only. Identification and support of ICD patients with Type D personality, increased anxiety sensitivity, or shocks is important.     

Short-term efficacy of a telephone intervention by expert nurses after an implantable cardioverter defibrillator

The ICD is a common therapy for treatment of ventricular arrhythmias and prevention of sudden cardiac death. After ICD therapy, 50% of survivors are known to have significantly elevated anxiety, depression, anger, and fear in getting back to normal physical activities. Despite these problems, few interventions to improve adjustment have been rigorously evaluated within a clinical trial format. This article reports the short-term efficacy of a structured weekly educational telephone intervention (8 weeks) delivered by expert cardiovascular nurses to recipients of an ICD. To test these effects, a two-group (n = 84/group) randomized clinical trial design was used with measures at baseline (hospital discharge), 1 month, and 3 months after ICD therapy. The study sample were first time ICD recipients for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest. Primary outcomes included (1) physical functioning (Patient Concerns Assessment [PCA], Short-Form Health Survey [SF-12], ICD shocks), (2) psychological adjustment (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI]), Centers for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D), (3) knowledge (Sudden Cardiac Arrest [SCA] knowledge assessment), and (4) health care use (emergency room visits, outpatient visits, hospitalizations). The intervention group, as compared to the control group, significantly reduced mean PCA symptoms at 1 month (11.3-8.8 vs 9.7-9.3, respectively, P < 0.02), and reduced state anxiety (36.1-31.9 vs 33.1-33.0, respectively, P < 0.08), and enhanced knowledge (21.8-22.4 vs 21.4-21.7, respectively, P < 0.02) at 3 months. The intervention did not significantly impact short-term health care use. A structured telephone intervention delivered during the first 8 weeks after ICD therapy by expert cardiovascular nurses decreased ICD related physical symptoms and anxiety, and increased SCA knowledge over 3 months.     

Gender Differences in Anxiety and Concerns about the Cardioverter Defibrillator

Background: Little is known about gender differences in the response to implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy. We compared female and male ICD patients on anxiety, depression, health-related quality of life (HRQL), ICD concerns, and ICD acceptance.
Methods: A cohort of consecutive, surviving patients (n = 535; mean age = 61.5 ± 14.4, 81.9% male) implanted with an ICD between 1989 and 2006 completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), the ICD concerns questionnaire, and the Florida Patient Acceptance Survey.
Results: High levels of anxiety (52% vs 34%, P < 0.001) and ICD concerns (34% vs 16%, P = 0.001) were more prevalent in women than men, whereas no significant differences were found on depression and device acceptance (Ps > 0.05). Women were more anxious (odds ratio [OR]: 2.60 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46–4.64], P < 0.01) and had more ICD concerns (OR: 1.81 [95% CI: 1.09–3.00], P < 0.05) than men, adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. Those ICD patients experiencing shocks were also more anxious (OR: 2.02 [95% CI: 1.20–3.42], P < 0.01) and had higher levels of ICD concerns (OR: 2.70 [95% CI: 1.76–4.16], P < 0.01). In multivariable analysis of variance, significant gender differences were found for only three of the eight subscales of the SF-36 (the physical social functioning and the mental health subscale), with women reporting poorer HRQL on all three subscales.
Conclusions: Women were more prone to experience anxiety and ICD concerns compared to men regardless of whether they had experienced shocks. In clinical practice, female ICD patients should be closely monitored, and if warranted offered psychosocial intervention, as increased anxiety has been shown to precipitate arrhythmic events in defibrillator patients.     

Long-term outcomes of a telephone intervention after an ICD

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term benefits of participating in a structured, 8-week educational telephone intervention delivered by expert cardiovascular nurses post-ICD. The intervention was aimed to (1) increase physical functioning, (2) increase psychological adjustment, (3) improve self-efficacy in managing the challenges of ICD recovery, and (4) lower levels of health care utilization over usual care in the first 12 months post-ICD. This article reports on the 6- and 12-month outcomes of the nursing intervention trial. METHODS AND RESULTS: A two-group (N = 168) randomized control group design was used to evaluate intervention efficacy with persons receiving an ICD for the secondary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest. Measures were obtained at baseline, 6 and 12 months post hospitalization. Outcomes included (1) physical functioning (Patient Concerns Assessment [PCA], Short Form Health Survey [SF-12], ICD shocks), (2) psychological adjustment (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI], Centers for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression [CES-D], fear of dying), (3) self-efficacy (Sudden Cardiac Arrest-Self-Efficacy [SCA-SE], Sudden Cardiac Arrest-Behavior [SCA-B], Sudden Cardiac Arrest-Knowledge [SCA-K]), and (4) health care utilization (emergency room [ER] visits, outpatient visits, hospitalizations). Using repeated measures ANOVA, the 6- and 12-month benefits of the intervention over usual care were in reductions in physical concerns (P = 0.006), anxiety (P = 0.04), and fear of dying (P = 0.01), with enhanced self-confidence (P = 0.04) and knowledge (P = 0.001) to manage ICD recovery. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups on total outpatient visits, hospitalizations, or ER visits over 12 months. CONCLUSION: A structured 8-week post-hospital telephone nursing intervention after an ICD had sustained 12-month improvements on patient concerns, anxiety, fear of dying, self-efficacy, and knowledge. Results may not apply to individuals with congestive heart failure who receive an ICD for primary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest.     

Clustering of device-related concerns and type D personality predicts increased distress in ICD patients independent of shocks

BACKGROUND: This study examined the impact of clustering of device-related concerns and Type D personality on anxiety and depressive symptoms during a six-month period and the clinical relevance of shocks, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) concerns, and Type D. METHODS: Consecutively implanted ICD patients (n = 176) completed questionnaires at baseline and six months and were divided into four risk groups: (1) No risk factors (neither ICD concerns nor Type D); (2) ICD concerns only; (3) Type D only; (4) Clustering (both ICD concerns and Type D). RESULTS: The prevalence of Type D and concerns were 21.6% and 34.7%. Analysis of variance for repeated measures showed a reduction in anxiety over time (P < 0.001), with the risk groups exerting a stable (P = 0.14) but differential effect (P < 0.001); the highest level was seen in the clustering group. Similar results were found for depression, although depressive symptoms did not decrease (P = 0.08) and the impact of clustering was less clear. These results were confirmed in adjusted analysis, with shocks (P = 0.024) also being associated with anxiety but not depression. The impact of ICD concerns and Type D personality on anxiety and depression at baseline and six months was large (>or=0.8) compared to negligible to moderate for shocks (0.0-0.6). CONCLUSIONS: ICD patients with psychosocial risk factor clustering had the highest level of anxiety, whereas the pattern for depression was less consistent. Shocks influenced outcomes, but the impact was smaller compared to ICD concerns and Type D personality. It may be timely to expand the focus beyond shocks when seeking to identify ICD patients at risk for adverse clinical outcome due to their psychological profile.     

The ICD shock and stress management program: a randomized trial of psychosocial treatment to optimize quality of life in ICD patients

BACKGROUND: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients potentially face significant psychological distress because of their risk for life-threatening arrhythmias and the occurrence of ICD shock. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to test an ICD stress and shock management program delivered in either a six-week format or a one-day workshop format. This intervention was aimed at reducing psychological (anxiety) and physiological (salivary cortisol) markers of distress in ICD patients. Secondary endpoints included measures of quality of life (QOL) and patient acceptance of device therapy, as well as biological mediators of inflammation (TNFalpha and IL-6). RESULTS: The ICD stress and shock management program resulted in the reduction of anxiety (P < 0.05) and cortisol levels (P < 0.05) in both the six weekly sessions format and the one-day workshop. Measures of anxiety decreased more rapidly with weekly intervention (P = 0.05). Both formats also resulted in a significant increase in patient acceptance of the ICD (P < 0.01). Follow-up assessment from posttreatment (T2) to four-month follow-up (T4) indicated no significant change in depression scores from posttreatment for all groups taken together, but there was a significant group by time effect, such that the workshop group displayed an increase in depression scores from T2 (M = 8.71, SD = 4.39) to T4 (M = 13.57, SD = 11.90), P < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that structured interventions for shocked ICD patients involving ICD education and cognitive-behavioral strategies can reduce psychological distress and improve quality of life, regardless of format.     

Depression and anxiety status of patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator and precipitating factors

BACKGROUND: Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are life-saving devices in treatment of life-threatening arrhythmia. We evaluate the emotional status of Turkish patients with ICD and try to explain factors that affect emotional status of the patients. METHODS: Ninety-one patients with previously implanted ICD were included in the study. Follow-up periods, presence of ICD shock, shock frequency, time of the recent shock, age, and gender were noted. Depression and anxiety scores were evaluated according to Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) chart. RESULTS: Mean anxiety and depression scores were found as 9.1 +/- 5.3 and 7.2 +/- 5.1, respectively. According to HAD charts, 42 patients (46%) had anxiety and 37 patients (41%) had depression. Depression scores indicated significant difference between subgroups divided on the basis of follow-up periods (P = 0.026) and on the basis of time of recent shock (P = 0.028). There was significant difference in anxiety scores (P = 0.016) between patients with ICD shocks and patients with no shocks. When the patients were divided into subgroups according to shock frequency, both depression (P = 0.024) and anxiety (P = 0.016) scores presented significant difference. In female patients, depression and anxiety scores were found significantly higher compared to male patients (P = 0.046 and P = 0.016, respectively). In multivariate analysis, gender and shock frequency were found as predictors for anxiety scores (P = 0.019 and P = 0.044, respectively). However same analysis revealed no predictive factor for depression score. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates presence of depression and anxiety in nearly half of the patients with ICD. Consultation with psychiatry should be a part of the treatment for patients with ICD, especially for those who constitute high-risk groups.     

Time to First Shock in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Patients with Chagas Cardiomyopathy

The time to first ICD shock has been extensively studied in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, there are no published data on ICD shocks in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC). The occurrence of the first appropriate ICD shock during the first 6 months of follow-up in 20 patients with ChC (group 1) and 35 CAD patients (group 2) was analyzed retrospectively. All patients had received a third-generation pectoral ICD for ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (VT/VF). Indications for ICD implantation were refractoriness to drug therapy or noninducibility of VT/VF at EPS in cardiac arrest survivors. Results: The mean age, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and sex in groups I and II were 57.4 ± 7 years versus 64 ± 9 (P < 0.01), 30.9%± 10% versus 32.9%± 10% (P = NS), and 10 men versus 31 women (P < 0.005), respectively. Six months after ICD implantation, 85% (17/20) group I patients received appropriate ICD shocks versus 51 % (18/35) in group 2, a statistically significant difference (P < 0.02, RR: 1.65, OR: 5.35). Conclusions: The incidence of appropriate ICD shocks within the first 6 months postimplantation was significantly higher in ChC patients than in CAD patients. ChC patients were younger and more often women than CAD patients.     

Ventricular Proarrhythmic Effects of Atrial Fibrillation are Modulated by Depolarization and Repolarization Anomalies in Patients with Left Ventricular Dysfunction

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) may have a ventricular proarrhythmic effect, particularly in the setting of heart failure. We assessed whether AF predicts appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and explored modulators of risk.
Methods and Results: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 215 consecutive patients with ICDs for primary prevention having a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35%. Mean age at ICD implantation was 61.0 ± 9.7 years and 17% were women. Overall, 22 patients (10.2%) experienced appropriate ICD shocks over a follow-up of 1.3 ± 0.7 years, corresponding to an actuarial event-rate of 5.8% per year. In univariate analysis, AF was associated with a 3.6-fold increased risk of appropriate shocks (P = 0.0037). Annual rates of appropriate ICD shocks in patients with and without AF were 12.9% and 3.5%, respectively (P = 0.0200). In multivariate stepwise Cox regression analyses controlling for baseline imbalances, demographic parameters, underlying heart disease, and therapy, history of AF independently predicted appropriate shocks (hazard ratio 2.7, P = 0.0278). Prolonged QRS duration (>130 ms) and QTc (>440 ms) modulated the effect of AF on appropriate shocks. Patients with both AF and QRS > 130 ms were more than five times more likely to receive an appropriate ICD shock (hazard ratio 5.4, P = 0.0396). Patients with AF and QTc > 440 ms experienced a greater than 12-fold increased risk of appropriate shocks (hazard ratio 12.7, P = 0.0177).
Conclusion: In prophylactic ICD recipients with left ventricular dysfunction, AF is associated with increased risk for ventricular tachyarrhythmias, particularly when combined with conduction and/or repolarization abnormalities.     

Clinical Significance of Consecutive Shocks in Patients with Left Ventricular Dysfunction Treated with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

The purpose of the present study was to determine the clinical significance of consecutive automatic shocks delivered by implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Sixty-four patients who received ICDs at our institution between January 1990 and July 1997 were included in this study. There were 53 men and 11 women with a mean age of 50 ± 14 years. During a follow-up period ranging between 0.2 and 73 months (mean 23 ± 21 months), 17 patients received consecutive shocks (group A), 29 patients received single shocks (group B), and 18 patients received no ICD therapy (group C). Clinical characteristics, episodes of ICD therapy, and prognosis were compared among the three groups. There were no significant differences among the three groups with regard to clinical characteristics, time to first ICD therapy, number of antitachycardia pacing episodes, or frequency of inappropriate discharges. The mortality rate was higher in group A than in groups B and C (P = 0.0021). The sensitivity of consecutive shocks in predicting death was 70%, the specificity was 88%, and the predictive accuracy was 81% in patients with left ventricular ejection fractions < 35%. In summary, consecutive shocks are a clinically important event in patients with ICDs. Specifically, patients who receive consecutive shocks and have a depressed left ventricular function should be considered particularly high risk.