Suicide attempt by pacemaker system abuse: a case report with comments on the psychological adaptation of pacemaker patients.
Thirty patients selected at random from a pacemaker clinic were interviewed to gain an understanding of how psychological symptoms in these patients related to their cardiac condition. In 20% veiled depression or even a wish to die was elicited. Joking, fantasies, and denial were common psychological mechanisms used to adapt to their illness and the pacemaker itself. A dramatic example of attempted suicide in which the patient tried to cut the subcutaneously implanted pacemaker leads is presented and illustrated.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001008:Anxiety Disorders; D001293:Attitude to Death; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology