title: The psychological impact of test results following diagnostic coronary CT angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography is an advanced cardiac imaging test commonly used for diagnosing early signs of ischemic heart disease. Despite its importance in cardiology, little is known about its psychological effect on patients. The present study sought to examine these effects in relation to illness perceptions, cardiac health behavior intentions, and subsequent health behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five nonacute cardiac patients who were referred for diagnostic coronary CT angiography completed questionnaires prior to testing and following the receipt of test results, at which point illness perceptions and intentions to take cardiac medication, as well as diet and exercise intentions were measured. Exercise and dietary behaviors were measured at follow-up 6 weeks later. Changes on these variables were then compared between patients diagnosed with normal arteries and patients diagnosed with diseased arteries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to positive-testing patients, patients with normal test results reported significant changes toward more positive illness perceptions following testing, with improvements in emotional effect of illness, illness concern, consequences, and personal control of illness. The illness perception of treatment control was seen as more important among positive-testing patients, whereas both groups reported increases in illness coherence. Health behavior intentions (cardiac medication intentions and exercise intentions) increased for positive-testing patients only, as did physical activity at follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnosis-dependent psychological effects can be detected following coronary CT angiography. These effects have important implications for patient health and health care in diagnostic contexts, and the results from this study can be used to guide further research in this area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Devcich
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Broadbent
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.forename: Keith J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Petrie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*