Psychosocial effects of harboring an untreated unruptured intracranial aneurysm.
OBJECTIVE
The primary purpose of the study was to investigate the psychosocial effects of harboring a known but untreated unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA), information considered important to the decision of whether to treat or not treat an unruptured aneurysm.


METHODS
Over a 24-month period, 70 Auckland Hospital patients with UIAs were identified. Of these, 30 completed treatment, 2 patients died before treatment, and 38 were either not treated or treatment was unable to be completed during the time frame of the study. Of this group of 38 untreated UIA patients, 23 were enrolled in the study and were assessed on a brief cognitive screen and a battery of psychosocial measures. Their performance was compared with a group of 26 treated UIA patients.


RESULTS
Poorer functioning was reported by the untreated UIA group on most psychosocial measures when compared with the treated UIA group 6 months posttreatment, and 36% of untreated UIA patients presented with a pattern of significant psychosocial impairment when compared with the treated UIA group. Qualitative data from the current study suggested that a factor contributing to the poorer reported psychosocial functioning in the untreated group was past or current fear about their untreated UIA.


CONCLUSIONS
A decrease in overall quality of life was found to be associated with harboring an identified but untreated UIA. Findings from the current study suggest that further investigation of psychosocial outcome in other groups of untreated UIA patients is warranted. Results also suggest that some untreated UIA patients might benefit from psychological intervention.
Towgood
Karren
K
Department of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. k.towgood@middlemore.co.nz
Ogden
Jenni A
JA
Mee
Edward
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies