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Concerns about implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks mediate the relationship between actual shocks and psychological distress

Overview of attention for article published in Europace, August 2015
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Title
Concerns about implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks mediate the relationship between actual shocks and psychological distress
Published in
Europace, August 2015
DOI 10.1093/europace/euv220
Pubmed ID
Authors

Ingela Thylén, Debra K. Moser, Anna Strömberg, Rebecca A. Dekker, Misook L. Chung

Abstract

Although most implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients cope well, fears about receiving ICD shocks have been identified as a major determinant of psychological distress. The relationships among ICD-related concerns, receipt of defibrillating shocks, and symptoms of anxiety and depression have not yet been investigated. Our objective was to examine whether the relationship between receipt of defibrillating shocks and psychological distress was mediated by patients' concerns related to their ICD. All Swedish ICD-recipients were invited to this cross-sectional correlational study; 3067 completing the survey (55% response rate). Their mean age was 66 ± 11 years, and 80% were male. One-third (35%) had received defibrillating shocks, and 26% had high ICD-related concerns. Regression analyses demonstrated that having received at least one shock significantly predicted symptoms of anxiety and depression [odds ratio (OR) 1.58 and OR 3.04, respectively]. The association between receipt of shocks and psychologically distress was mediated by high ICD-related concerns which explained 68% of the relationship between shocks and symptoms of anxiety, and 54% of the relationship between shocks and symptoms of depression. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-related concerns have a bigger impact on psychological distress than receipt of an actual shock. Assessing ICD-related concerns in clinical practice can identify patients at risk for psychological distress. Further research on assessment of, and interventions targeting, ICD-related concerns is warranted.

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Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 58 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
United States 1 2%
Unknown 57 98%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Doctoral Student 9 16%
Researcher 8 14%
Student > Ph. D. Student 7 12%
Student > Bachelor 6 10%
Other 3 5%
Other 11 19%
Unknown 14 24%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Medicine and Dentistry 19 33%
Nursing and Health Professions 10 17%
Psychology 7 12%
Neuroscience 2 3%
Environmental Science 1 2%
Other 2 3%
Unknown 17 29%