Manifestations of health anxiety in patients with heart transplant.
Health anxiety
Heart transplantation
Hypochondriasis
Illness Attitude Scales
Psychological distress
Journal
Heart & lung : the journal of critical care
ISSN: 1527-3288
Titre abrégé: Heart Lung
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0330057
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
received:
26
06
2019
revised:
05
12
2019
accepted:
09
12
2019
pubmed:
9
3
2020
medline:
22
12
2020
entrez:
9
3
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Health anxiety is an important component of psychological adjustment to chronic medical conditions. However, it has been overlooked after heart transplantation. To examine demographic, clinical, and psychological correlates of health anxiety in heart transplanted patients and to compare health anxiety between patients and a sample of matched controls from the general population. The study design was observational. Seventy-three cardiac recipients and 73 controls completed the Illness Attitude Scales and the Symptom Questionnaire. Patients' clinical parameters were collected. Health anxiety was significantly associated with clinical variables suggesting a worse outcome, especially a higher NYHA class and occurrence of cancer. Compared to controls, patients had significantly more "hypochondriacal responses" (32.9% vs. 16.4%), an index of clinically significant health anxiety. Health anxiety affects a significant subset of heart transplanted patients and deserves a thorough assessment. Cardiologists' and nurses' specific communication skills and psychological treatment strategies may be necessary.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Health anxiety is an important component of psychological adjustment to chronic medical conditions. However, it has been overlooked after heart transplantation.
OBJECTIVES
To examine demographic, clinical, and psychological correlates of health anxiety in heart transplanted patients and to compare health anxiety between patients and a sample of matched controls from the general population.
METHODS
The study design was observational. Seventy-three cardiac recipients and 73 controls completed the Illness Attitude Scales and the Symptom Questionnaire. Patients' clinical parameters were collected.
RESULTS
Health anxiety was significantly associated with clinical variables suggesting a worse outcome, especially a higher NYHA class and occurrence of cancer. Compared to controls, patients had significantly more "hypochondriacal responses" (32.9% vs. 16.4%), an index of clinically significant health anxiety.
CONCLUSIONS
Health anxiety affects a significant subset of heart transplanted patients and deserves a thorough assessment. Cardiologists' and nurses' specific communication skills and psychological treatment strategies may be necessary.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32145959
pii: S0147-9563(20)30016-9
doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2019.12.006
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
364-369Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest Professors Sirri, Tossani and Grandi and Drs. Potena and Masetti have no conflicts of interest to report.