Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Ladwig, K.-H. Articles by Herrmann, R. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Ladwig, K.-H. Articles by Herrmann, R. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Long-Acting Psychotraumatic Properties of a Cardiac Arrest Experience

OBJECTIVE: Progress in resuscitation medicine allows an increasing proportion of patients to survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, little is known about long-term adaptation to the vital breakdown. The present study assessed the long-term prevalence and severity of emotional disability of cardiac arrest survivors and ascertained whether survivors suffer from recurrent and intrusive recollections of the cardiac arrest. METHOD: Follow-up analysis was performed on all cardiac arrest survivors discharged from the hospital over a 5-year interval (1990–1994) in a defined inner city and suburban area. From 118 initially hospitalized cardiac arrest survivors, 45 patients were discharged alive from the hospital. After a mean follow-up period of 39 months (range=22–64), 25 patients exhibited sufficient cerebral performance for psychodiagnostic assessment; 21 patients were assessed. RESULTS: Despite an impaired ability to concentrate, cardiac arrest survivors had levels of psychological adjustment at follow-up that were similar to those of 35 cardiac patients whose clinical course was not complicated by cardiac arrest. However, the diagnosis of psychotraumatic symptoms in cardiac arrest survivors led to a sharp separation between favorable and nonfavorable outcome in affective regulation and level of functioning. Of the cardiac arrest patients, those with high scores of intrusion and avoidance (N=8) reported an enduring sense of demoralization with significantly more somatic complaints, depression, anxiety, lack of confidence in the future, and narrowing of social activities than those with low scores (N=11). Long-acting sedation at illness onset significantly predicted a favorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first empirical evidence that the application of the posttraumatic stress disorder paradigm in the long-term evaluation of cardiac arrest survivors significantly contributes to defining a patient population at high risk for serious emotional disability.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Spindler and S. S. Pedersen Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Wake of Heart Disease: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Future Research Directions Psychosom Med, September 1, 2005; 67(5): 715 - 723. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. P. Kapfhammer, H. B. Rothenhausler, T. Krauseneck, C. Stoll, and G. Schelling Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Health-Related Quality of Life in Long-Term Survivors of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Am J Psychiatry, January 1, 2004; 161(1): 45 - 52. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Ginzburg, Z. Solomon, and A. Bleich Repressive Coping Style, Acute Stress Disorder, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After Myocardial Infarction Psychosom Med, September 1, 2002; 64(5): 748 - 757. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 1999 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us