Peripartum Cardiomyopathy and Spouses' Experiences of Persistent Uncertainty.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of spouses whose wives had peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). DESIGN METHODS: Participants were recruited for this phenomenological study through online sites Facebook and SavetheMommies. Fifteen men from four countries participated through semistructured phone interviews conducted between October 2019 and August 2020. Data were analyzed using a modified version of the constant comparison method. RESULTS: The overarching theme of spouses' experiences was Living with the 'what ifs' of persistent uncertainty. Four main themes were: Feeling the shock, Facing the challenge, Figuring out a new normal, and Finding meaning. Spouses had to deal with the fear of their wives' heart failure relapse or death, changed marital and parental roles, and unclear expectations of the future. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: PPCM is a rare complication of pregnancy with uncertain implications for the future that can have a profound impact on the woman's spouse and family. Our findings should alert nurses and other health care professionals to the need for emotional, spiritual, and informational support of spouses or partners of women who have PPCM. Nurses should include spouses and partners in care and communication to make sure they are as informed as possible, have their questions and concerns addressed as needed, and receive adequate follow-up support.

Validity and reliability of the Italian version of the cardiac quality of life questionnaire for pediatric patients with heart disease (PedsQLTM).

BACKGROUND: Congenital heart disease (CHD) accounts for nearly a third of all major congenital anomalies. Advances in pediatric cardiology shifted attention from mortality to morbidity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with CHD and impact on their families. The purposes of this study were to assess the validity and reliability of the Italian version of the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) Cardiac Module and to create normative data for the Italian population. METHODS: This was an observational cross-sectional study of pediatric patients (aged 2-18 years) with congenital or acquired Heart Disease (HD) and their parents. Families were asked to complete the cardiac pediatric health-related quality of life questionnaire (the Italian PedsQL™ 3.0 Cardiac Module) and the generic pediatric health-related quality of life questionnaire (PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales). The sequential validation procedure of the original United States version of the PedsQL™ 3.0 Cardiac Module was carried out under the instruction of the MAPI Research Institute. To assess construct validity, Pearson's correlation coefficients were assessed between scores on the Cardiac Module scales and scores on the scales of the General Module. To determine agreement between patient self-report and parent proxy-report, we used intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). To evaluate Internal consistency of items, we used Cronbach's alpha Coefficient. RESULTS: The study enrolled 400 patients. Construct validity is good between PedsQL Cardiac Module total scores and PedsQL total scores (p < 0.001). The recommended standard value of 0.7 was reached on the Cardiac and General Module core scales. Intercorrelations between PedsQL Cardiac module and PedsQL scores revealed medium to large correlations. In general, correlations between Patient self-reports are poorer than Parent-proxy ones. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac PedsQL scores are valid and reliable for pediatric patients with congenital and acquired HD and may be useful for future research and clinical management.

Health-related quality of life and physical activity in children with inherited cardiac arrhythmia or inherited cardiomyopathy: the prospective multicentre controlled QUALIMYORYTHM study rationale, design and methods.

BACKGROUND: Advances in paediatric cardiology have improved the prognosis of children with inherited cardiac disorders. However, health-related quality of life (QoL) and physical activity have been scarcely analysed in children with inherited cardiac arrhythmia or inherited cardiomyopathy. Moreover, current guidelines on the eligibility of young athletes with inherited cardiac disorders for sports participation mainly rely on expert opinions and remain controversial. METHODS: The QUALIMYORYTHM trial is a multicentre observational controlled study. The main objective is to compare the QoL of children aged 6 to 17 years old with inherited cardiac arrhythmia (long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia), or inherited cardiomyopathy (hypertrophic, dilated, or restrictive cardiomyopathy), to that of age and gender-matched healthy subjects. The secondary objective is to assess their QoL according to the disease's clinical and genetic characteristics, the level of physical activity and motivation for sports, the exercise capacity, and the socio-demographic data. Participants will wear a fitness tracker (ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer) for 2 weeks. A total of 214 children are required to observe a significant difference of 7 ± 15 points in the PedsQL, with a power of 90% and an alpha risk of 5%. DISCUSSION: After focusing on the survival in children with inherited cardiac disorders, current research is expanding to patient-reported outcomes and secondary prevention. The QUALIMYORYTHM trial intends to improve the level of evidence for future guidelines on sports eligibility in this population. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04712136, registered on January 15th, 2021 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04712136 ).

Interpreting the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire in Clinical Trials and Clinical Care: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

To improve the patient-centeredness of care, patient-reported outcomes have been increasingly used to quantify patients' symptoms, function, and quality of life. In heart failure, the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) has been qualified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a Clinical Outcome Assessment and recommended as a performance measure for quantifying the quality of care. By systematically asking the same questions reproducibly over time, the KCCQ can validly and sensitively capture the impact of heart failure on patients' lives and is strongly associated with clinical events over time. This review describes how to interpret the KCCQ, how it should be analyzed in clinical trials to maximize the interpretability of results, and how it can be used in clinical practice and population health. By providing a deeper understanding of the KCCQ, it is hoped that its use can further improve the patient-centeredness of heart failure care.

Post-Traumatic Stress, Depression, and Quality of Life in Women with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy.

PURPOSE: Peripartum cardiomyopathy, a traumatic life-threatening type of heart failure, occurs in the last trimester of pregnancy or shortly after childbirth. Little is known about psychological or emotional conditions women experience with peripartum cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among post-traumatic stress, depression, and quality of life in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, correlational survey study included 28 participants recruited via public notice on Facebook. Participants completed the Horowitz Impact of Events Scale, the Center for Epidemiology Scale-Depression 20, and the Ferrans & Powers Quality of Life Index-Cardiac Version-IV. RESULTS: Post-traumatic stress correlated significantly and positively with depression (r = .809, p < .001). Post-traumatic stress and depression correlated significantly and inversely with quality of life (r = -.455, p = .015), (r = -.544, p = .003), respectively. All participants measured positive for depression. Participants with lower education scored higher on post-traumatic stress and depression, whereas those unemployed or disabled registered a lower quality of life. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Nurses, midwives, and physicians caring for women with cardiomyopathies must be vigilant for evidence of post-traumatic stress, depression, and poor quality of life. Targeted antenatal and postnatal support could be vital to emotional and psychological recovery.

Autonomic and diastolic dysfunction association with quality of life impairment in cirrhotic patients.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Cirrhosis is a multisystem disorder characterized by hyperdynamic circulation which can progress to multiple organ dysfunctions. Recent studies have demonstrated autonomic dysfunction and cirrhotic cardiomyopathy including diastolic dysfunction, systolic dysfunction with electrophysiologic abnormalities in patients with cirrhosis. Due to the long and complicated course of the disease, health related quality of life is affected. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of diastolic dysfunction and autonomic dysfunction in cirrhosis, and the effects on health-related quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hundred cirrhotic patients were enrolled in the study. According to the Child-Pugh classification 35 patients were of Child A, 36 of Child B and 29 of Child C. The proportion of autonomic dysfunction was 52%, and diastolic dysfunction 51%. Autonomic dysfunction was diagnosed using bedside maneuvers and tests; diastolic dysfunction was diagnosed using the E/A ratio in echocardiographic findings. Health-related quality of life measurements was obtained from an SF-36 questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients with advanced Child-Pugh classifications were found to have significantly lower health-related quality of life values (p < 0.05). Likewise, health-related quality of life values were observed to be significantly lower in patients with autonomic dysfunction (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in health related quality of life measurements between patients with and without diastolic dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that autonomic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction are found in patients with cirrhosis. Further studies are needed to assess the effects of autonomic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction on health-related quality of life.

Practice Issues for Evaluation and Management of the Suicidal Left Ventricular Assist Device Patient.

There is a high prevalence of depression among left ventricular assist device patients, who present with an increased risk of suicidality given access to means via the device either with nonadherence or disconnection. Suicidality via device nonadherence/disconnection is an underresearched clinical issue, as paradoxically this life-saving procedure can also provide a method of lethal means to patients with significant mental health concerns. A case study is used to highlight the course of an attempted suicide by ventricular assistive device nonadherence. Clinical implications and recommendations for practice include a thorough psychological evaluation presurgery, monitoring quality of life and coping styles before and after placement, psychological testing, outlining specific suicide protocols, psychiatric care considerations for patients with highly specialized medical devices, and related ethical concerns.

[Psychometric properties of the Death Anxiety Scale in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy]. / Propiedades psicométricas del Death Anxiety Scale en pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica.

OBJECTIVE: Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a major public health concern in Spain. Death from ischemic disease accounts for approximately a third of all deaths due to cardiovascular disease, and imposes a serious burden on already overstretched public health system owing to the tendency to chronicity. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of Templer's Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) in a sample of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (acute myocardial infarction and angina pectoris). METHODS: This study applied the Spanish version of Templer's Death Anxiety Scale (DAS). The sample consisted of 141 patients (61% men) with ischemic cardiomyopathy, mean agede 71.57 years (SD=5.76). A descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and factorial analysis of the principal components. RESULTS: The corrected element-total correlation was positive in all items, with values ranging from 0.32 and 0.54. Four factors jointly explained 51.85% of the data variance. The reliability coefficients were high in all of the variables analysed, with a total Cronbach Alpha of 0.77. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in this study revealed ischemic cardiomyopathy was susceptible to the process of death anxiety. This underscores the need for educating patients with this pathology to help them adapt to the process of chronicity, and to develop an understanding of the naturalization process of dying bearing in mind each person's multidimensionality.

OBJETIVO: En España, la cardiopatía isquémica es un problema importante de salud pública. Las muertes por enfermedad isquémica representan, aproximadamente, un tercio del total de muertes debidas a una enfermedad cardiovascular. En todo caso, comportan atenciones e intervenciones importantes en materia de salud, derivadas de su tendencia a la cronicidad. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) de Templer, en una muestra de pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica (infarto agudo de miocardio y angina de pecho). METODOS: En la presente investigación se utilizó la Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) de Templer, en la versión adaptada a sujetos españoles. Se empleó una muestra total constituida por 141 sujetos con cardiopatía isquémica y con una edad media de 71,57 años (DT=5,76), siendo el 61% de la muestra varones. Se realizaron análisis estadísticos descriptivos, así como un análisis factorial de los componentes principales. RESULTADOS: La correlación elemento-total corregida fue positiva en todos los ítems, con valores entre el 0,32 y 0,54. Se identificaron cuatro factores que, en conjunto, explicaron un 51,85% de la varianza de los datos. Los cocientes de fiabilidad encontrados fueron elevados en todas las variables analizadas, obteniéndose un Alfa de Cronbach total de 0,77. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados obtenidos en nuestra investigación nos indican que la enfermedad de cardiopatía isquémica no es ajena al proceso de ansiedad ante la muerte. Está justificado, por tanto, promover una educación en pacientes con esta patología para la adaptación al proceso de cronicidad, así como para la naturalización del proceso final del ciclo vital, teniendo presente la multidimensionalidad de la persona.

Psychometric evaluation of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in Mexican adults with ischemic and hypertensive cardiomyopathy / Evaluación psicométrica de la Escala de Ansiedad y Depresión Hospitalaria en adultos Mexicanos con cardiopatía isquémica e hipertensiva

Abstract Background: Depression and anxiety are frequent comorbid conditions in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); they are related to poor prognosis and higher mortality risk. Health providers need a clinical tool to identify these psychiatric conditions. The 14-item hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) is a screening tool used in patients with different medical conditions. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the HADS Mexican Spanish version in a broad sample of Mexican patients with CVDs. Materials and Methods: A total of 953 individuals between 18 and 75 years old with ischemic or hypertensive cardiomyopathy were screened with the HADS Mexican Spanish version. Construct validity, internal consistency, and congruence coefficients of the scale were obtained. Results: The results showed two clear factors which correspond to the original two designated domains of the HADS, anxiety, and depression, with adequate reliability values (alpha > 0.80) and high congruence coefficients (> 0.90) when compared to the sample of other validation studies of the HADS. Conclusions: The present study adds evidence of the validity and reliability of the HADS to assess the presence of both depression and anxiety in Mexican patients with CVD. Its central contribution is that it demonstrates its capacity to differentiate the presence and severity of depression and anxiety in this population.

Resumen Antecedentes: La depresión y la ansiedad son afecciones comórbidas frecuentes en las enfermedades cardiovasculares; se relacionan con mal pronóstico y mayor riesgo de mortalidad. Los proveedores de salud requieren de una herramienta clínica para identificar estas condiciones psiquiátricas. La Escala de Ansiedad y Depresión Hospitalaria de 14 ítems (HADS) es una herramienta de detección utilizada en pacientes con diferentes afecciones médicas. Objetivo: Evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión mexicana-española de la HADS en una amplia muestra de pacientes mexicanos con enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV). Método: Un total de 953 individuos entre 18 y 75 años de edad con cardiomiopatía isquémica o hipertensiva se examinaron con la versión Mexicana en español de la HADS. Se obtuvieron la validez de constructo, la consistencia interna y los coeficientes de congruencia de la escala. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron dos factores que corresponden a los dos dominios designados originales de la HADS, ansiedad y depresión, con valores de confiabilidad adecuados (alfa > 0.80) y altos coeficientes de congruencia (> 0.90) en comparación con la muestra de otros estudios de validación de la HADS. Conclusiones: El presente estudio sustenta la validez y confiabilidad de la HADS para evaluar la presencia de depresión y ansiedad en pacientes Mexicanos con ECV. Su contribución central es su capacidad para diferenciar la presencia y la gravedad de la depresión y la ansiedad en esta población.

Fathers' reactions over their partner's diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy: A qualitative interview study.

BACKGROUND: Fathers' experience of childbirth has been described as both distressing and wonderful, but little has been described in the literature about fathers´ reactions when their partners get life threatening diagnoses such as peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) during the peripartum period. AIM: To learn more about fathers' reactions over their partner's diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Fourteen fathers, whose partner was diagnosed with PPCM before or after giving birth, were interviewed. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis technique. RESULTS: The first reaction in fathers was shock when they heard their partner had PPCM, which was sudden, terrible and overwhelming news. Their reactions to trauma are described in the main category: The appalling diagnosis gave a new perspective on life with emotional sub-categories: overwhelmed by fear, distressing uncertainty in the situation and for the future, feeling helpless but have to be strong, disappointment and frustration, and relief and acceptance. Although terrified, fathers expressed gratitude towards health care professionals for the diagnosis that made it possible to initiate adequate treatment. CONCLUSION: Exploring father's reactions will help peripartum and cardiology healthcare professionals to understand that emotional support for fathers is equally important as the support required for mothers during the peripartum period. Specifically they will help professionals to focus on future efforts in understanding and meeting the supportive care needs of fathers when their partner suffers from a life-threatening diagnosis like PPCM.

Psychosocial Adjustment and Quality of Life in Patients With Peripartum Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Psychological distress can adversely affect heart failure prognosis, yet the immediate and ongoing challenges faced by women diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) are not well studied. OBJECTIVE: We examined psychological distress and quality of life in a large, national sample of patients with PPCM and evaluated whether these characteristics differ among newly diagnosed (0-1 year), short-term (2-4 years), and long-term (5-10 years) survivors. METHODS: One hundred forty-nine patients with PPCM (mean age, 33.9 ± 5.0 years) recruited from a web-based registry completed questionnaires about generalized anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), cardiac anxiety (Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire [CAQ]), health status (Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 12 [SF-12] Health Survey), and PPCM-specific quality-of-life concerns. Group differences were evaluated using multivariate statistics with adjustments for disease severity and psychiatric history. RESULTS: Generalized anxiety symptoms higher than the clinical cutoff were reported by 53% of patients with PPCM. Mean scores on the CAQ (1.9 ± 0.7) and CAQ subscale scores (cardiac-specific fear [2.1 ± 0.8], avoidance [1.7 ± 0.9], and heart-focused attention [1.6 ± 0.8]) were elevated in the overall sample. Psychological symptoms and quality-of-life concerns were generally similar across patients except for cardiac avoidance, which was significantly higher in newly diagnosed women after adjustments for disease severity (P = .05) and psychiatric history (P = .01). Peripartum cardiomyopathy-specific quality-of-life concerns were also prevalent; however, group differences were nonsignificant (P = .07). CONCLUSIONS: Generalized anxiety, cardiac anxiety, and quality-of-life concerns are prevalent among patients with PPCM at all stages of recovery. Psychological issues may be an underrecognized aspect of women's recovery from PPCM.

Psychometric evaluation of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in Mexican adults with ischemic and hypertensive cardiomyopathy.

Background: Depression and anxiety are frequent comorbid conditions in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); they are related to poor prognosis and higher mortality risk. Health providers need a clinical tool to identify these psychiatric conditions. The 14-item hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) is a screening tool used in patients with different medical conditions. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the HADS Mexican Spanish version in a broad sample of Mexican patients with CVDs. Materials and Methods: A total of 953 individuals between 18 and 75 years old with ischemic or hypertensive cardiomyopathy were screened with the HADS Mexican Spanish version. Construct validity, internal consistency, and congruence coefficients of the scale were obtained. Results: The results showed two clear factors which correspond to the original two designated domains of the HADS, anxiety, and depression, with adequate reliability values (alpha > 0.80) and high congruence coefficients (> 0.90) when compared to the sample of other validation studies of the HADS. Conclusions: The present study adds evidence of the validity and reliability of the HADS to assess the presence of both depression and anxiety in Mexican patients with CVD. Its central contribution is that it demonstrates its capacity to differentiate the presence and severity of depression and anxiety in this population.

Antecedentes: La depresión y la ansiedad son afecciones comórbidas frecuentes en las enfermedades cardiovasculares; se relacionan con mal pronóstico y mayor riesgo de mortalidad. Los proveedores de salud requieren de una herramienta clínica para identificar estas condiciones psiquiátricas. La Escala de Ansiedad y Depresión Hospitalaria de 14 ítems (HADS) es una herramienta de detección utilizada en pacientes con diferentes afecciones médicas. Objetivo: Evaluar las ­propiedades psicométricas de la versión mexicana-española de la HADS en una amplia muestra de pacientes mexicanos con enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV). Método: Un total de 953 individuos entre 18 y 75 años de edad con cardiomiopatía isquémica o hipertensiva se examinaron con la versión Mexicana en español de la HADS. Se obtuvieron la validez de constructo, la consistencia interna y los coeficientes de congruencia de la escala. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron dos factores que corresponden a los dos dominios designados originales de la HADS, ansiedad y depresión, con valores de confiabilidad adecuados (alfa > 0.80) y altos coeficientes de congruencia (> 0.90) en comparación con la muestra de otros estudios de validación de la HADS. Conclusiones: El presente estudio sustenta la validez y confiabilidad de la HADS para evaluar la presencia de depresión y ansiedad en pacientes Mexicanos con ECV. Su contribución central es su capacidad para diferenciar la presencia y la gravedad de la depresión y la ansiedad en esta población.

Propiedades psicométricas del Death Anxiety Scale en pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica / Psychometric properties of the Death Anxiety Scale in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy

OBJETIVO: En España, la cardiopatía isquémica es un problema importante de salud pública. Las muertes por enfermedad isquémica representan, aproximadamente, un tercio del total de muertes debidas a una enfermedad cardiovascular. En todo caso, comportan atenciones e intervenciones importantes en materia de salud, derivadas de su tendencia a la cronicidad. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) de Templer, en una muestra de pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica (infarto agudo de miocardio y angina de pecho). MÉTODOS: En la presente investigación se utilizó la Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) de Templer, en la versión adaptada a sujetos españoles. Se empleó una muestra total constituida por 141 sujetos con cardiopatía isquémica y con una edad media de 71,57 años (DT=5,76), siendo el 61% de la muestra varones. Se realizaron análisis estadísticos descriptivos, así como un análisis factorial de los componentes principales. RESULTADOS: La correlación elemento-total corregida fue positiva en todos los ítems, con valores entre el 0,32 y 0,54. Se identificaron cuatro factores que, en conjunto, explicaron un 51,85% de la varianza de los datos. Los cocientes de fiabilidad encontrados fueron elevados en todas las variables analizadas, obteniéndose un Alfa de Cronbach total de 0,77. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados obtenidos en nuestra investigación nos indican que la enfermedad de cardiopatía isquémica no es ajena al proceso de ansiedad ante la muerte. Está justificado, por tanto, promover una educación en pacientes con esta patología para la adaptación al proceso de cronicidad, así como para la naturalización del proceso final del ciclo vital, teniendo presente la multidimensionalidad de la persona

OBJECTIVE: Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a major public health concern in Spain. Death from ischemic disease accounts for approximately a third of all deaths due to cardiovascular disease, and imposes a serious burden on already overstretched public health system owing to the tendency to chronicity. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of Templer's Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) in a sample of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (acute myocardial infarction and angina pectoris). METHODS: This study applied the Spanish version of Templer's Death Anxiety Scale (DAS). The sample consisted of 141 patients (61% men) with ischemic cardiomyopathy, mean agede 71.57 years (SD=5.76). A descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and factorial analysis of the principal components. RESULTS: The corrected element-total correlation was positive in all items, with values ranging from 0.32 and 0.54. Four factors jointly explained 51.85% of the data variance. The reliability coefficients were high in all of the variables analysed, with a total Cronbach Alpha of 0.77. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in this study revealed ischemic cardiomyopathy was susceptible to the process of death anxiety. This underscores the need for educating patients with this pathology to help them adapt to the process of chronicity, and to develop an understanding of the naturalization process of dying bearing in mind each person's multidimensionality

Psychological adaptation after peripartum cardiomyopathy: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition of heart failure affecting women with no previous heart disease in the last months of pregnancy and up to six months after childbirth. OBJECTIVE: To explore women's experiences of the process of regaining psychological balance and wellbeing (i.e. psychological adaptation) after having experienced severe peripartum morbidity. DESIGN: A qualitative exploratory research design was applied to guide the study. Data was collected through in-depth, semi-structured, face-toface telephone and e-mail interviews. Thematic analysis was applied in the data analysis. SETTING: The study was a sub-study of a larger nationwide research study investigating the incidence and clinical outcome of peripartum cardiomyopathy in Denmark during a ten-year period of 2005-2014. PARTICIPANTS: Through a criterion-based sampling strategy, 14 Danish women with peripartum cardiomyopathy were recruited for participation in the study. In relation to severity of disease, demographics and pregnancy related characteristic, the sample showed a wide range of diversity. FINDINGS: The overarching theme of the thematic analysis was identified to be Recovering to a new normal after peripartum cardiomyopathy. The overarching theme was comprised by five main themes: Losing trust, Silence after chaos, Disrupted early mothering, Choices made for me and not by me, and Ability to mobilize inner resources. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study suggest that women are vulnerable in the time after PPCM diagnosis and struggle to find psychological balance in their life. The need for professional psychological support was often unmet and the physical symptoms were foregrounded in the recovery period. After PPCM, follow-up on psychological wellbeing and morbidity should be offered to women routinely.

Examining the Psychosocial Impact of Genetic Testing for Cardiomyopathies.

Inherited cardiomyopathies, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), are the most common monogenic cause of cardiac disease and can rarely lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD). They are characterized by incomplete and age-dependent penetrance and are usually initially symptomatic in adulthood yet can present in childhood as well. Over 20 genes have been identified to cause HCM, and more than 40 genes are known to cause DCM. Genetic testing for these genes has been integrated into medical care; however, the psychological impact of genetic testing and the impact of the uncertainty that comes with receiving these results have not been well studied. This study surveyed 90 adult probands and relatives with a personal or family history of cardiomyopathy from a single hospital-based cardiac genetic program to determine the psychosocial impact of genetic testing for cardiomyopathies. Standardized psychological instruments including an adapted Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (aMICRA), Impact of Event Scale (IES), and Satisfaction with Decision (SWD) scales were utilized. Patients with positive genetic test results had higher scores for intrusive thoughts, avoidance, and distress when compared to those with negative genetic test results and were also more likely to make or plan to make life changes because of the results of their genetic testing. Satisfaction with the decision to undergo genetic testing was similar regardless of genetic test results. The results of this study provide insight into the patient experience of genetic testing for cardiomyopathies and how these experiences are associated with genetic test results and cardiac history.

Moral Distress at the End of a Life: When Family and Clinicians Do Not Agree on Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Deactivation.

A 63-year-old man with end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy presented with incessant ventricular tachycardia. He had been hospitalized multiple times in the past year for severe heart failure. As he approached end of life and was regularly receiving defibrillator shocks, his care team recommended deactivation of his implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. However, his family did not wish to allow deactivation, reporting a religious obligation to prolong his life, regardless of the risk of suffering. The patient was unable to adequately participate in the decision-making process. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator can serve to avoid sudden death but may lead to a prolonged death from heart failure. This possibility forces the examination of values regarding prolongation of life, sometimes producing disagreement among stakeholders. Although ethical consensus holds that defibrillator deactivation is legal and ethical, disagreements about life prolongation may complicate decision making. The ethical, technical, and medical complexity involved in this case speaks to the need for clear, prospective communication involving the patient, the patient's family, and members of the care team.

Cardiac sarcoidosis resembling panic disorder: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease of unknown etiology, in which granulomas develop in various organs, including the skin, lungs, eyes, or heart. It has been reported that patients with sarcoidosis are more likely to develop panic disorder than members of the general population. However, there are many unknown factors concerning the causal relationship between these conditions. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 57-year-old woman who appeared to have panic disorder, as she experienced repeated panic attacks induced by transient complete atrioventricular block, associated with cardiac sarcoidosis. Psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy were not effective in the treatment of her panic attacks. However, when we implanted a permanent pacemaker and initiated steroid treatment for cardiac sarcoidosis, panic attacks were ameliorated. Based on these findings, we diagnosed the patient's symptoms as an anxiety disorder associated with cardiac sarcoidosis, rather than panic disorder. CONCLUSIONS: This report highlights the importance of considering cardiac sarcoidosis in the differential diagnosis of panic disorder. This cardiac disease should be considered especially in patients have a history of cardiac disease (e.g., arrhythmia) and atypical presentations of panic symptoms. Panic disorder is a psychiatric condition that is typically diagnosed after other medical conditions have been excluded. Because the diagnosis of sarcoidosis is difficult in some patients, caution is required. The palpitations and symptoms of heart failure associated with cardiac sarcoidosis can be misdiagnosed as psychiatric symptoms of panic disorder. The condition described in the current case study appears to constitute a physical disease, the diagnosis of which requires significant consideration and caution.

Mitochondrial dysfunction bridges negative affective disorders and cardiomyopathy in socially isolated rats: Pros and cons of fluoxetine.

Objectives Depression is tightly associated with cardiovascular comorbidity and accounts for high financial and social burden worldwide. Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathophysiology of depression and cardiovascular disorders; its contribution to depression-cardiovascular comorbidity has not yet been investigated. Methods Adolescent rats were subjected to 4 weeks of isolation (social isolation stress or SIS) or social conditions (control), and then they were divided into treatment (fluoxetine, 7.5 mg/kg/day for 21 days) and non-treatment groups. After different housing conditions and treatment, animals were evaluated by behavioural tests (n = 6-8) and mitochondrial assessments (n = 3) of brain and cardiac tissues. Results We found that juvenile SIS induced behavioural abnormalities and mitochondrial dysfunction in adulthood. We showed that juvenile SIS was associated with impaired respiratory chain complex, which leads to reactive oxygen species formation, oxidative damage and ATP abatement in both brain and heart. Administration of FLX (7.5 mg/kg/day) during the isolation period attenuated the effects of SIS on the brain mitochondria and behavioural abnormalities, but had little or no effect on SIS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiac tissue. Conclusions This suggests that juvenile SIS predisposes the co-occurrence of depression and cardiovascular disease through mitochondrial dysfunction and that therapeutic effect of fluoxetine is partly mediated by its effect on mitochondrial function.