title: Population screening for coronary artery calcification does not increase mental distress and the use of psychoactive medication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Detection of coronary artery calcification (CAC) has been proposed for population screening. It remains unknown whether such a strategy would result in unnecessary concern among participants. Therefore, we set out to assess whether CAC screening affects the psychological well-being of screening participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 1825 middle-aged subjects (men and women, 50 or 60 y old) were invited for health screening. The European HeartScore was calculated, and a CAC score was measured using a cardiac computed tomography scanner. Therapeutic interventions as a result of the observations were at the discretion of the individual general practitioner. Before screening and at 6-month follow-up a depression test (Major Depression Inventory) was conducted, and the use of psychoactive medication was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1257 (69%) subjects agreed to participate. Because of known cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus, 88 persons were excluded. Of the remaining 1169, 47% were men, and one half were 50 years old. At 6-month follow-up, significant reductions were observed in the Major Depression Inventory score from 5.3 to 3.9 (P<0.0001) and in the prescription rates of psychoactive medication from 7.1% (83 of 1169) to 6.2% (72 of 1169) (P=0.003). The results were independent of sex, age, HeartScore, CAC Score, and changes in other medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A population screening program including CAC score appears to have no detrimental impact on mental distress and does not increase the use of psychoactive medication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anders Daldorph
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Poul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Videbech
authors.forename: Oke
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gerke
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Jesper Møller
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Niels Peter Rønnow
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Sand
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Egstrup
authors.forename: Mogens Lytken
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mickley
authors.forename: Axel Cosmus Pyndt
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Diederichsen
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents