Psychosocial factors associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety following acute myocardial infarction

ABSTRACT

To study factors associated with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety following acute myocardial infarction [AMI]. This Cross-sectional analytical, non-interventional, hospital based study was carried out at Punjab Institute of Cardiology [P.I.C] and Services Hospital, Lahore. One hundred consecutive inpatients with AMI diagnosed using WHO criteria, with the age range of 30-60 years [who were without physical complications] were included in the study. The Urdu version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] was administered to each patient during the period of 5-7 days following AMI. A semi structured clinical interview was also conducted which included demographic information, psychiatric assessment and risk factors related to AMI especially psychosocial factors. Results were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences [SPSS]. Out of 100 subjects, 80 [80%] were males and 20 [20%] were females. The age range was between 30-60 years [50.92 +/- 8.53]. Over all, symptoms of depression and/or anxiety were found in 50 [50%] patients. More particularly, symptoms of depression were found in 14%, symptoms of anxiety in 18%, and mixed symptoms [depression and anxiety] in 18% of the patients. A significant association was found between symptoms of depression and/or anxiety following AMI and family history of AMI [p < .007], type A behavior traits [p < .001], job stress [p < .01] and lack of confiding relationships [p < .002]. However, no significant association was found between symptoms of depression and/or anxiety following AMI and past history of AMI. The findings highlight the critical need to assess symptoms of depression and/or anxiety following AMI along with the factors leading to these. This would be particularly important in patients who have a family history of MI, job related stress, lack of confiding relationships and type A behavior traits