The psychosocial predictors of long-term distress in partners of patients with acute coronary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Partners of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients are at risk of experiencing long-term distress and the purpose of this study was to identify its predictors.


METHODS
Using an observational design, 80 partners of ACS patients completed validated questionnaires at three time points. The predictor variables, marital satisfaction and optimism were assessed three weeks after patient hospital discharge (T1). The outcomes, depressive symptoms and physical health status (from a quality of life scale) were measured 6 (T2) and 12 (T3) months post-discharge, and scores were combined to indicate the long-term response.


METHODS
Depressive symptoms and physical health status.


RESULTS
Partner depressive symptoms increased and physical health status deteriorated over the months following the patients' ACS. After controlling for demographics, clinical severity of ACS and T1 levels of the outcome variable, partners' long-term depressive symptoms were predicted by poor marital satisfaction and low optimism at T1, and poor physical health status was predicted by low T1 optimism.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychosocial factors are predictors of long-term distress for ACS partners. Partners in an unhappy marriage or with low optimism after ACS are at an increased risk of depression and low physical health status, and should be the target of additional support.
a Psychobiology Group, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health , University College London , London , UK.
Elizabeth S
ES
Leigh
Anna
A
Wikman
Gerard J
GJ
Molloy
Gemma
G
Randall
Andrew
A
Steptoe
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
acute coronary syndrome; depressive symptoms; partner; physical health status