Am J Psychiatry 1980; 137:1325-1335
Copyright © 1980 by American Psychiatric Association
Psychophysiologic factors in sudden cardiac death
B Lown, RA DeSilva, P Reich and BJ Murawski
Sudden cardiac death due to ventricular fibrillation is the leading cause
of fatality in the industrially developed world. A considerable body of
evidence indicates that the higher nervous system modifies electrical
activity of the heart and may trigger sudden death. The evidence for
increased risk for ventricular fibrillation due to psychophysiologic
factors is supported predominantly by animal studies, but increasing
evidence is forthcoming from human studies. The involvement of
psychiatrists, psychologists, and cardiologists in a multidisciplinary
approach to managing patients at risk for sudden death from ventricular
fibrillation is yielding significant insights and prolonging their lives.
