Post-traumatic stress disorder in patients with coronary artery disease: screening and management implications.

Objectives: To review the literature on anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and to present an approach to diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: MEDLINE and PsychInfo searches of English-language articles were performed. Search terms included 'anxiety', 'post-traumatic stress disorder' and 'depression', with various cardiac-related subject headings.

Results: Research indicates that anxiety, PTSD and depression occur frequently in patients with CAD, but these psychological problems are rarely identified or treated in the cardiology or primary care setting.

Conclusions: The present review offers practical recommendations on how to detect and assess anxiety, PTSD and depression in the cardiology or primary care setting. Treatment recommendations are provided, with a focus on pharmacotherapy for anxiety and depressive disorders in patients with CAD.