Depression, anxiety, and neuropsychological performance in coronary artery bypass graft patients: a follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
Undergoing coronary-artery bypass surgery (CABG) remains a significant life-event, with an important psycho-emotional impact on patients and their families.


OBJECTIVE
The authors examined the incidence and course of depression and anxiety in CABG patients before and after surgery.


METHODS
The long-term relationship between mood disorders and neuropsychological deficits was studied 1 day before and 6 days (N=53), 6 months (N=37), and 3-5 years (N=43) after the procedure.


RESULTS
Before surgery, one-third of the patients showed mild-to-moderate cognitive-affective symptoms of depression. After surgery, one-fourth still showed elevated depression scores, whereas anxiety was significantly decreased at all post-operative time-points. Patients with higher pre-operative symptoms of depression showed sustained feelings of depression after surgery. Visuomotor performance was most affected by mood.


CONCLUSIONS
Data indicated that patients with preoperative moderate cognitive-affective depression could be at risk for sustained feelings of depression even up to 5 years after surgery.
Stroobant
Nathalie
N
University Hospital, Ghent, Laboratory for Neuropsychology, 4K3, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium. Nathalie.Stroobant@UGent.be
Vingerhoets
Guy
G
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000523:psychology*; D003710:Demography; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology