Type D Personality, Concomitant Depressive and Anxiety Disorders, and Treatment Outcomes in Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders: An Observational Longitudinal Cohort Study.

To establish the prevalence of Type D personality in patients with somatic symptoms and related disorders and to evaluate the association of Type D personality with treatment outcomes. This study explores the effect of Type D personality and its two traits, negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI). In this longitudinal observational cohort study, we assessed the prevalence of Type D in 212 patients presenting themselves at a clinic in Tilburg, the Netherlands.

Trajectories of patient-reported health status in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

To date, no study has assessed the course of patient-reported health status in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Studying health status trajectories and their baseline determinants would permit the identification of patients at risk for poor health outcomes after ICD implantation. A combined cohort of 1,222 patients with an ICD (79% men; age = 61.

E-health to manage distress in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: primary results of the WEBCARE trial.

Unlabelled: The Web-based distress management program for patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD; WEBCARE) was developed to mitigate distress and enhance health-related quality of life in ICD patients. This study investigated the treatment effectiveness at 3-month follow-up for generic and disease-specific outcome measures.

Methods: Consecutive patients implanted with a first-time ICD from six hospitals in the Netherlands were randomized to either the "WEBCARE" or the "usual care" group.

Gender differences in psychological distress and quality of life in patients with an ICD 1-year postimplant.

Background: Gender differences in patient-reported outcomes in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) have been researched, but findings are inconclusive and mostly based on cross-sectional study designs. To gain a better insight into potential determinants of psychological distress and health-related quality of life (HQOL), we examined the relationship between gender and patient-reported outcomes in patients with an ICD in the first year after ICD implantation.

Methods: Consecutive patients (N = 300) receiving an ICD between September 2007 and February 2010 at Medisch Spectrum Twente hospital, the Netherlands, completed several questionnaires to assess psychological distress and HQOL prior to ICD implantation and at 2 months, 5 months, 8 months, and 12 months postimplantation.

Monitoring treatment expectations in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator using the EXPECT-ICD scale.

Aims: Patient treatment expectations may affect cardiac outcomes; however, till date, no validated instruments have been developed to monitor treatment expectations in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). This study evaluates the predictive value of the newly developed 10-item EXPECtations Towards ICD therapy (EXPECT-ICD) in relation to anxiety, depression, and ICD related concerns 3 months post-implant.

Methods And Results: Consecutive implanted ICD patients were included as part of the WEB-based distress management programme for ICD patients (WEBCARE) trial from six Dutch referral hospitals.

Age-related differences in the effect of psychological distress on mortality: Type D personality in younger versus older patients with cardiac arrhythmias.

Background: Mixed findings in biobehavioral research on heart disease may partly be attributed to age-related differences in the prognostic value of psychological distress. This study sought to test the hypothesis that Type D (distressed) personality contributes to an increased mortality risk following implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) treatment in younger patients but not in older patients.

Methods: The Type D Scale (DS14) was used to assess general psychological distress in 455 younger (≤70 y, m = 59.

Subjectively reported symptoms in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and emotional distress.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are characterized by emotional distress and poor quality of life. Little is known about the relation between emotional distress and subjectively reported AF symptoms. Our aims were to compare emotional distress levels in AF patients with distress levels in the general population and to examine the cross-sectional and prospective relationship between subjective AF symptom reports and emotional distress around electrical cardioversion (ECV).

Different ways of subcutaneous tissue and skin closure at cesarean section: a randomized clinical trial on the long-term cosmetic outcome.

Objective: To study the effect of subcutaneous tissue closing and the effect of two different skin closure methods at cesarean section on long-term cosmetic results.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: A large teaching hospital in the Netherlands.

Anxiety and depression in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator and their partners: a longitudinal study.

Background: Little is known about the relation between emotional distress of patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and distress of their partners. This longitudinal study aimed to determine the association between patient and partner distress, and to explain distress in patients and partners using demographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics of patients and partners.

Methods: In total, 343 patients (84% male, mean age = 63.

Anxiety and risk of ventricular arrhythmias or mortality in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Objective: A subgroup of patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) experiences anxiety after device implantation. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether anxiety is predictive of ventricular arrhythmias and all-cause mortality 1 year post ICD implantation.

Methods: A total of 1012 patients completed the state version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory at baseline.

Trajectories of perceived emotional and physical distress in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Background: Little is known about the course of emotional and physical distress in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

Purpose: We examined (1) trajectories of emotional and physical distress in the first 18 months postimplantation and (2) predictors of these trajectories, including demographical, clinical, and personality factors.

Methods: Dutch patients with an ICD (N = 645) completed measures on anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, and perceived disability at the time of implantation, and 2, 12, and 18 months postimplantation.

Does new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting affect postoperative quality of life?

Objectives: New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery. We investigated the effect of POAF on quality of life after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: All patients who underwent nonemergency coronary artery bypass grafting between March 2009 and January 2011 were requested to complete a Short Form-36 Health Survey before and 6 months after the procedure.

Prognostic importance of distressed (Type D) personality and shocks in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Background: Clinical trials have shown the benefit of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) treatment. In this study, we examined the importance of chronic psychological distress and device shocks among ICD patients seen in clinical practice.

Methods: This prospective follow-up study included 589 patients with an ICD (mean age=62.

Increased septum wall thickness in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement predicts worse late survival.

Background: Following guidelines, aortic valve replacement (AVR) in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic valve stenosis is often postponed until symptoms do occur. Delaying AVR will inevitably lead to progression of left ventricular hypertrophy. We studied the relationship between septum wall thickness indexed for body surface area (SWTI) as a measure for LV hypertrophy and 30-day and late all-cause mortality after AVR.

Association of type D personality with unhealthy lifestyle, and estimated risk of coronary events in the general Icelandic population.

Background: Type D personality is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality risk in cardiovascular disease patients, but the mechanisms explaining this risk are unclear. We examined whether Type D was associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, estimated risk of developing CAD, and previous cardiac events.

Design: Cross-sectional study in the general Icelandic population.

Type D personality is associated with impaired psychological status and unhealthy lifestyle in Icelandic cardiac patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Type D (distressed) personality has been associated with adverse cardiac prognosis and poor emotional well-being in cardiac patients, but it is still unclear what mechanisms link Type D personality with poor clinical outcomes in cardiac patients. In the present cohort of Icelandic cardiac patients, we examined potential pathways that may explain this relationship. The objectives were to examine 1) the association between Type D personality and impaired psychological status, and to explore whether this association is independent of disease severity; and 2) the association between Type D personality and an unhealthy lifestyle.

New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation predicts late mortality after mitral valve surgery.

Background: New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common rhythm disturbance after mitral valve surgery. In this study we investigated the independent effect of POAF on early and late mortality after mitral valve surgery.

Methods: Data of patients who consecutively underwent mitral valve surgery with or without concomitant coronary or tricuspid valve surgery between January 2003 and June 2010 were prospectively collected.

Emotional distress, positive affect, and mortality in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Background: Little is known about the relationship between emotional distress and mortality in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Our aim was to examine the predictive value of general negative and positive affect, and depressive symptoms (including its components somatic symptoms and cognitive-affective symptoms) for mortality.

Methods: ICD patients (N=591, 81% male, mean age=62.

Gender disparities in anxiety and quality of life in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

Aims: A paucity of studies in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients has examined gender disparities in patient-reported outcomes, such as anxiety and quality of life (QoL). We investigated (i) gender disparities in anxiety and QoL and (ii) the magnitude of the effect of gender vs. New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (III/IV), ICD shock, and Type D personality on these outcomes.

Effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator implantation on health status in patients with mild versus moderate symptoms of heart failure.

Indications for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) have expanded to include patients with mild congestive heart failure (CHF) symptoms (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class II) because of a demonstrated morbidity reduction in this subset of patients. However, little is known about postimplantation changes in their self-reported health status compared to patients with more severe CHF. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of baseline NYHA functional class on health status changes in the first 12 months after implantation of a CRT with defibrillator (CRT-D).

Posttraumatic stress 18 months following cardioverter defibrillator implantation: shocks, anxiety, and personality.

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been observed in cardiac patients, but little is known about PTSD in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients. We examined the prevalence and predictors (clinical variables, personality, and anxiety) of PTSD in ICD patients.

Method: Three hundred ninety-five ICD patients (20.

Body mass index predicts new-onset atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.

Objective: New-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Since obesity is becoming increasingly prevalent, identifying body mass index (BMI) as a risk factor for POAF could be of importance. The aim of our study is to investigate the effect of BMI on POAF, independent of other risk factors.

Gender disparities in psychological distress and quality of life among patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

A subset of patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) reports psychological distress and poor quality of life (QoL). Gender is one of the factors that has been proposed to explain individual differences in these outcomes. In this viewpoint, we (1) review the evidence for gender disparities in psychological distress and QoL in ICD patients by means of a systematic review, and (2) provide recommendations for future research and clinical implications.

Predictive value of depressive symptoms and B-type natriuretic peptide for new-onset heart failure and mortality.

Depression and natriuretic peptides predict heart failure (HF) progression, but the unique contributions of depression and biomarkers associated with HF outcomes are not known. The present study determined the additive predictive value of depression and aminoterminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for new-onset HF in HF-free subjects and mortality in patients with HF. The participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study were assessed for depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and NT-proBNP using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.