title: Depression, anxiety and stress in women following acute coronary syndrome: implications for secondary prevention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document incidence of depression, anxiety, and stress in women more than 6 months following an acute coronary syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were identified from a coronary care unit database. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21 (DASS 21) was sent to potential participants via postal survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A metropolitan teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cohort of women was aged between 55 and 70 years. They had been admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) between 6 and 14 months prior to participating in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scores on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS 21).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 117 posted questionnaires, 39 women with a mean age of 63 (S.D. 4.97) responded to the survey, representing a response rate of 33.3%. Most participants scored within normal levels of depression (66.7%), anxiety (60.5%), and stress (70.3%), however, mild to extremely severe levels of each construct (33.4%, 39.6%, and 29.7%, respectively) were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reporting of elevated levels of depression, anxiety and stress in a subset of women more than 6 months following an ACS event underscores the importance of ongoing screening for risk factors impacting on psychological well-being and the inclusion of this information in education and counseling strategies in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Based on these pilot data, consideration of a screening system in the immediate post discharge period for women at risk and an education or support service are recommended.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Western Sydney & Nursing Research Unit, Sydney West Area Health Service, Australia. michelle_digiacomo@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DiGiacomo
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vanderpluym
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Snell
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Worrall-Carter
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D017132:Workplace