An updated review of implantable cardioverter/defibrillators, induced anxiety, and quality of life

J Michael Bostwick; Christopher L Sola

doi:10.1016/j.hfc.2010.10.003

An updated review of implantable cardioverter/defibrillators, induced anxiety, and quality of life

Heart Fail Clin. 2011 Jan;7(1):101-8. doi: 10.1016/j.hfc.2010.10.003.

Authors

J Michael Bostwick¹, Christopher L Sola

Affiliation

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

PMID: 21109213
DOI: 10.1016/j.hfc.2010.10.003

Abstract

Despite overall favorable acceptance of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), patients may experience discharges as frightening and painful. The authors reviewed ICD-induced psychopathology in 2005. During the past 2 years the number of studies examining psychopathology and quality of life after ICD implantation has increased dramatically, warranting this update of that review. Variables assessed have included recipient age, gender, social support network, perception of control and predictability of shocks, and personality style. Now the picture of what is known is, if anything, cloudier than it was 2 years ago, with little definitive and much contradictory data emerging in most of these categories.