title: Depressive coping is a predictor for emotional distress and poor quality of life in a German-Austrian sample of cardioverter-defibrillator implant recipients at 3 months and 1 year after implantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has been proven to prolong the lives of patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. However, implant recipients must cope with numerous challenges. We studied the effects of specific coping strategies and the adaptability of coping in ICD implant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study investigated the subjective well-being and objective disease course in 180 patients with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, who were recruited while awaiting implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator. Patients completed well-validated self-assessment questionnaires before implantation (T0), as well as 3 months (T1) and 1 year (T2) after implantation. In addition, cardiological findings were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depressive coping (range Beta, -0.36 to -0.58) was found to be a stable highly-significant predictor for low emotional well-being and quality of life. Active problem-oriented coping showed small positive influence (range Beta, 0.10 to 0.19). Employing a broad range of coping strategies was predictive of less emotional distress and better quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depressive coping is a risk factor for emotional distress and poor quality of life after ICD implantation. Patients with this tendency should be identified early and offered supportive psychotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Freiburg, Haupstrasse 8, Freiburg, Germany. kurt.fritzsche@uniklinik-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fritzsche
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schweickhardt
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanwischer
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drinkmann
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rabung
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geibel
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herrmann-Lingen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001317:Austria; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors