Increased anxiety in partners of patients with a cardioverter-defibrillator: the role of indication for ICD therapy, shocks, and personality.
BACKGROUND
The partner of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patient serves as an important source of support for the patient, which may be hampered if the partner experiences increased distress. We examined (1) potential differences in anxiety and depressive symptoms in ICD patients compared to their partners, and (2) the extent to which the partner's personality is a more important determinant of partner distress than patient clinical characteristics, using a prospective design.


METHODS
Consecutively implanted ICD patients (n = 196) and their partners (n = 196) completed a set of psychological questionnaires at baseline and 6 months after implantation.


RESULTS
Analysis of variance with repeated measures showed that partners had significantly higher levels of anxiety compared to patients (F(1,390) = 16.431; P < 0.001) but not depressive symptoms (F(1,390) = 0.186; P = 0.67). There was a significant overall reduction in anxiety (F(1,390) = 79.552; P < 0.001) and depressive symptoms (F(1,390) = 39.868; P < 0.001) over 6 months, with group (i.e., patient vs partner) exerting a stable effect on anxiety (F(1,390) = 0.966; P = 0.33) and depressive symptoms (F(1,390) = 0.025; P = 0.87). These results remained in adjusted analysis. Determinants of anxiety and depressive symptoms in partners included secondary prophylaxis in patients (Ps < 0.001-0.002), Type D personality of the partner (Ps < 0.001-0.001), secondary prophylaxis by shock interaction (P = 0.002; anxiety only), and secondary prophylaxis by Type D interaction (Ps = 0.001-0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Partners had higher levels of anxiety but not depression than ICD patients. Partner distress could be attributed not only to the partner's personality, but also to patient clinical characteristics, primarily secondary prophylaxis for ICD therapy. These results indicate that information on the clinical characteristics of the patient in addition to partner characteristics may help identify partners at risk of distress.
Pedersen
Susanne S
SS
Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands. s.s.pedersen@uvt.nl
VAN DEN Berg
Martha
M
Erdman
Ruud A M
RA
VAN Son
Jenny
J
Jordaens
Luc
L
Theuns
Dominic A M J
DA
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D018579:Patient Selection; D010551:Personality / Q000145:classification*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*