title: Psychological support and psychiatric management of patients with automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators.
abstract: There are well over 6,000 automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators (AICD) that have been implanted in the United States since 1980. The device clearly reduces arrhythmic mortality in high risk patients. Many AICD patients have other cardiac diseases, most commonly, coronary artery disease with associated prior myocardial infarctions. These patients have special psychosocial stresses that may make them vulnerable to depression and other psychological disturbances. Psychological support together with psychiatric treatment, if needed, should be provided to these patients. Use of psychotropic medications should be closely monitored, especially in this population, as many of these drugs can exacerbate ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Special precautions should also be taken when administering electroconvulsive therapy in these patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin Medical School, Milwaukee Clinical Campus.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tchou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piasecki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gutmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jazayeri
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Axtell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akhtar
mesh_terms: D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000523:psychology*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012803:Sick Role; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs