title: [First onset of panic disorder and agoraphobia induced by a series of inappropriate shocks of an implanted cardioverter/defibrillator].
abstract: We report on a 61-year-old patient with an implanted defibrillator due to malignant arrhythmia after myocardial infarction. After several years of appropriate function, the patient suffered a cluster of 16 shocks due to a defect in the defibrillator. Soon the patient developed a panic disorder with agoraphobia which was successfully treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy. Possible cognitive-behavioral mechanisms of panic disorder and special issues of behavioral therapy of patients with serious organic diseases are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie des Universitätsklinikums Benjamin Franklin der Freien Universität Berlin. peter.neu@medizin.fu-berlin.de
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Godemann
mesh_terms: D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010359:Patient Readmission; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy