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Psychological indices and phantom shocks in patients with ICD

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Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Some patients with ICDs experience the sensation of a shock in the absence of true therapy (phantom shock). We hypothesize that phantom shocks may be a manifestation of anxiety, depression or PTSD.

Methods and results

All patients over 18 years old with an ICD were eligible to enroll in the study. The first 75 subjects who agreed to participate were enrolled and divided into three groups: ICD patients with phantom shocks (n = 19); ICD patients who had actual shocks (n = 28) and ICD patients who had no shocks (n = 28). During a clinic visit a demographic questionnaire and three psychological rating scales were administered: the Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Posttraumatic Stress Checklist (PCL-C). No significant differences between groups were found in gender, race, age, history of MI or cardiac surgery status. Data analysis of the psychological indices using one-way ANOVA showed that the group with phantom shocks had more depression (CES-D p = 0.011) and more anxiety (STAI p = 0.010) than the other groups. Multiple comparisons of group means showed a greater percentage of clinically depressed patients in the phantom shock group than in the other groups.

Conclusion

Patients with phantom shocks are more likely to be clinically depressed and have higher levels of anxiety than other ICD patients, regardless of history of actual shocks.

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Correspondence to Liza A. Prudente.

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This publication was partially supported by Grant number K30-AT-00060 from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the officicial views of the NCCAM or the National Institutes of Health.

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Prudente, L.A., Reigle, J., Bourguignon, C. et al. Psychological indices and phantom shocks in patients with ICD. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 15, 185–190 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-006-9010-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-006-9010-z

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