Depression and perceptions about heart failure predict quality of life in patients with advanced heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Mood is an independent predictor of mortality and quality of life (QoL) for people with heart failure. However, the underlying belief systems involved in mood are unknown.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to identify psychological and clinical variables predicting mood and QoL for people diagnosed with heart failure (HF).


METHODS
One hundred and forty-six HF patients were assessed with standardized measures, to determine their beliefs about HF, coping styles, mood, and QoL.


RESULTS
Patients with more negative beliefs about the consequences of HF and with less perceived control over symptoms showed maladaptive coping styles such as denial and behavioral disengagement, and more severe levels of depression and anxiety. Depression also independently predicted QoL outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Anxious and depressed patients have more negative beliefs about HF, leading to negative coping behaviors and poor QoL. Our evidence suggests that changing negative beliefs may improve the psychological well-being and QoL of patients, irrespective of disease severity.
Hallas
Claire N
CN
Royal Brompton & Harefield National Health Service Trust, Harefield, Middlesex, United Kingdom. ch372@squ.edu.om
Wray
Jo
J
Andreou
Panayiota
P
Banner
Nicholas R
NR
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010465:Perception; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires