Many people experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress following a heart attack, and anxiety, depression and social withdrawal are also commonplace. These are the findings of a study by Susan Ayers of the University of Sussex and colleagues Claire Copland and Emma Dunmore, published recently, in the British Journal of Health Psychology.

Seventy four people who had experienced a heart attack in the previous 12 weeks and who were attending cardiac rehabilitation programmes took part in the study. The sample was predominantly male (76 per cent) with an average age of 62 years. Participants completed questionnaires assessing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as well as perceptions of the severity of their heart attack and the extent to which they believed their lives were in danger. Physical health, anxiety, depression and impairment of social activities were also measured, as were dysfunctional coping strategies such as denial and avoidance.

Of the participants, 16 per cent met clinical criteria for acute PTSD and a further 18 per cent reported moderate to severe symptoms. Those with PTSD symptoms were more likely to have poorer psychological health and social impairments. Findings revealed that people who tended to use denial and avoidance coping strategies were more likely to develop PTSD symptoms - this was a more powerful predictor of symptoms than patients' perceptions of the severity of the heart attack and the threat to life.

Dr Ayers said: "Around 150,000 people in the UK survive the acute stage of a heart attack each year. Feelings of fear, anxiety and depression are common after such an event. The findings of this study suggest that a high proportion experience very severe distress - this has the potential to impair recovery, quality of life and threaten future health. It is therefore vital that cardiac patients are screened for psychological distress, such as anxiety, depression and PTSD, and offered appropriate treatment if necessary."

Source
British Psychological Society