[Alprazolam use improves psychological status and reduces hospitalization costs in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of alprazolam use on psychological status and hospitalization cost in patient with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia underwent electrophysiology studies or radiofrequency catheter ablation.


METHODS
In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 142 inpatients [77 males, mean age (43.1 +/- 14.5) years] were randomly assigned to receive alprazolam (0.4 mg qd at 10PM for 3 days, n = 72) or placebo (n = 70) 3 days before scheduled electrophysiology studies or radiofrequency catheter ablation. All patients were examined by the Chinese version of Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) at 24 hours before the procedure.


RESULTS
Compared with the placebo group, the scores of somatization (1.38 +/- 0.40 vs. 1.65 +/- 0.56, P < 0.01), anxiety (1.50 +/- 0.39 vs. 1.69 +/- 0.50, P < 0.05), phobic anxiety (1.24 +/- 0.36 vs. 1.47 +/- 0.57, P < 0.01), psychotism constructs (1.24 +/- 0.34 vs. 1.35 +/- 0.30, P < 0.05) and global severity index (1.36 +/- 0.35 vs. 1.49 +/- 0.37, P < 0.05) were significantly decreased in alprazolam group. The hospitalization costs were also significantly lower in alprazolam group (32 498 +/- 1170) yuan compared to placebo group (32 947 +/- 1096) yuan, P < 0.05.


CONCLUSIONS
The alprazolam use before electrophysiology studies and radiofrequency catheter ablation can improve the patients' psychological status and reduce the hospitalization costs.
Zhu
Yu-juan
YJ
Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Liu
Zi-yan
ZY
Chen
Yao
Y
Zheng
Ping
P
Zhu
Jian-hua
JH
Tao
Qian-min
QM
Zheng
Liang-rong
LR
Wang
Qi-qi
QQ
Shi
Ming-juan
MJ
Qiu
Yuan-gang
YG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013614:Tachycardia, Paroxysmal / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000525:Alprazolam