Posttraumatic stress disorder after implantation of a mechanical assist device followed by heart transplantation: evaluation of patients and partners

Bunzel, B; Laederach-Hofmann, K; Wieselthaler, GM; Roethy, W; Drees, G (2005). Posttraumatic stress disorder after implantation of a mechanical assist device followed by heart transplantation: evaluation of patients and partners. Transplantation proceedings, 37(2), pp. 1365-8. New York, N.Y.: Elsevier 10.1016/j.transproceed.2004.12.248

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AIM: We sought to investigate the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression in patients and their partners after implantation of a mechanical assist device as a bridge to heart transplantation. METHODS: This was a retrospective assessment of 41 patients (age 46.3 +/- 12.0 years; male-female ratio, 38:3; time since transplantation, 55.3 +/- 34.2 months [range, 7-122 months) and 27 partners (male-female ratio 2:25) by standardized instruments (Impact of Event Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), in 2 University Heart Transplant Centers (Vienna, Austria, Munster, Germany). The duration of the support systems (MicroMed DeBakey-VAD in 17 patients, Novacor in 10, Thoratec in 8, TCI HeartMate in 5, and Berlin Heart Incor in 1 patient) ranged from 28 to 711 (176 +/- 146) days. RESULTS: None of the patients, but 23% of the partners (n = 6), met the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (Maercker cutoff >0). The Impact of Event Scale (IES) sum scales differed significantly between the 2 groups (21.2 +/- 15.1, mean +/- SD) for the patients versus 38.1 +/- 27.8 for the partners, respectively; P = .001). Two percent of the patients, but 19% of the partners, showed mild to moderate depression; 4% of patients, but 23% of their partners, reported mild to moderate anxiety. None of the results were significantly influenced by the time since transplantation, patient age, diagnoses, type of assist device, or indication for heart transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite patients being much closer to a life threat, their partners experience significantly more psychologic distress even in the long run. Our findings highlight the need for attention to the supporting persons.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition
UniBE Contributor:	Laederach, Kurt
ISSN:	0041-1345
ISBN:	15848722
Publisher:	Elsevier
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 15:01
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:19
Publisher DOI:	10.1016/j.transproceed.2004.12.248
PubMed ID:	15848722
Web of Science ID:	000228568900274
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/26699 (FactScience: 86964)