Stress and coping in caregivers of patients awaiting solid organ transplantation.

Caregivers for patients undergoing solid organ transplantation play an essential role in the process of transplantation. However, little is known about stress and coping among these caregivers. Six hundred and twenty-one primary caregivers of potential candidates for lung (n = 317), liver (n = 147), heart (n = 115), and/or kidney (n = 42) transplantation completed a psychometric test battery at the time of the candidate's initial pre-transplant psychosocial evaluation.

A randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavior therapy tailored to psychological adaptation to an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Objectives: To evaluate a eight-session cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) intervention tailored to adaptation in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients; and to test for treatment group by gender interaction effects.

Methods: Patients receiving their first ICD implant were randomized to CBT or usual cardiac care. Primary outcomes measured at baseline, 6-month, and 12-month follow-ups were symptoms of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (Impact of Events Scale-Revised), and phobic anxiety (Crown-Crisp Experiential Index).

Parental overprotection and heart-focused anxiety in adults with congenital heart disease.

Background: The care of adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) is challenging from a mental health perspective, as these patients continue to face a variety of biopsychosocial issues that may impact emotional functioning. Despite these issues, there are limited data on the psychosocial functioning of adults with CHD, and there are no data on the impact of parental overprotection on heart-focused anxiety in this patient population.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between patient recollections of parental overprotection and current heart-focused anxiety in adults with CHD.

Depression and anxiety in adult congenital heart disease: predictors and prevalence.

Background: Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients face unique medical and social challenges that may contribute to psychological difficulties. The goals of this study were to identify predictors of symptoms of depression and anxiety and evaluate the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders among North American ACHD patients.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, consecutive patients were recruited from two ACHD outpatient clinics.

Gender differences and quality of life in atrial fibrillation: the mediating role of depression.

Objective: This study investigated gender differences, depression, and health-related quality of life (QoL) in a cross-sectional sample of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved a convenience sample of AF patients from two tertiary-care clinics in Toronto, Canada. Ninety-three AF patients completed psychometrically validated measures of generic QoL and depression.

Psychological correlates of quality of life in atrial fibrillation.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with significant health-related quality of life (QoL) impairments. Markers of heart disease severity have explained little variance in QoL and it is unclear what other factors will better account for the observed differences in adjustment. We examined whether specific personality traits and illness management styles would help explain the severity of QoL impairments reported in this population.

Stress management: what is it?

Stress management (SM) is a widely used term with a seemingly obvious meaning. The research literature contains many studies evaluating its effectiveness, but it is not clear how many different forms of SM exist and how efficacious they are for which target problem. One hundred and fifty-three studies on SM were analyzed to determine consensus in definitions and therapy protocols.