Chest pain, palpitations and panic

A prospective investigation of the prognosis of noncardiac chest pain in emergency department patients

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to describe the 2-year evolution of the intensity and frequency of noncardiac chest pain (NCCP), NCCP-related disability and health-related quality of life in a cohort of emergency department (ED) patients. It also aimed to identify and characterize subgroups of patients who share similar NCCP trajectories.

METHODS

672 consecutive patients with NCCP were prospectively recruited in two EDs. NCCP, physical and mental health-related quality of life and pain-related impairment were assessed at baseline and 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after the index ED visit.

RESULTS

Significant reductions in the intensity and frequency of NCCP and in NCCP-related disability were observed over time, with 58.1% of patients being considered NCCP-free at the 2-year follow-up. Four trajectories of NCCP intensity were identified through latent class growth mixture modelling: Worsening Trajectory (6.8%), Persistence Trajectory (20.5%), Limited Improvement Trajectory (13.1%) and Remission Trajectory (59.5%). Physical quality of life was significantly higher in the latter two trajectories at all assessment points. Patients in the Remission Trajectory reported a better mental quality of life and a greater decrease in NCCP-related disability over time than those in the other trajectories.

CONCLUSIONS

Over 40% of ED patients with NCCP experienced persistent biopsychosocial morbidity that warrants further clinical attention.

Biobehavioral approach to distinguishing panic symptoms from medical illness

Panic disorder is a common psychiatric diagnosis characterized by acute, distressing somatic symptoms that mimic medically-relevant symptoms. As a result, individuals with panic disorder overutilize personal and healthcare resources in an attempt to diagnose and treat physical symptoms that are often medically benign. A biobehavioral perspective on these symptoms is needed that integrates psychological and medical knowledge to avoid costly treatments and prolonged suffering. This narrative review examines six common somatic symptoms of panic attacks (non-cardiac chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea, dizziness, abdominal distress, and paresthesia), identified in the literature as the most severe, prevalent, or critical for differential diagnosis in somatic illness, including long COVID. We review somatic illnesses that are commonly comorbid or produce panic-like symptoms, their relevant risk factors, characteristics that assist in distinguishing them from panic, and treatment approaches that are typical for these conditions. Additionally, this review discusses key factors, including cultural considerations, to assist healthcare professionals in differentiating benign from medically relevant symptoms in panic sufferers.

Anxiety disorders in patients with noncardiac chest pain: association with health-related quality of life and chest pain severity

BACKGROUND

Patients with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) report more severe symptoms and lowered health-related quality of life when they present with comorbid panic disorder (PD). Although generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the second most common psychiatric disorder in these patients, its impact on NCCP and health-related quality of life remains understudied. This study describes and prospectively compares patients with NCCP with or without PD or GAD in terms of (1) NCCP severity; and (2) the physical and mental components of health-related quality of life.

METHODS

A total of 915 patients with NCCP were consecutively recruited in two emergency departments. The presence of comorbid PD or GAD was assessed at baseline with the Anxiety Disorder Schedule for DSM-IV. NCCP severity at baseline and at the six-month follow-up was assessed with a structured telephone interview, and the patients completed the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey Version 2 (SF-12v2) to assess health-related quality of life at both time points.

RESULTS

Average NCCP severity decreased between baseline and the six-month follow-up (p < .001) and was higher in the patients with comorbid PD or GAD (p < .001) at both time points compared to those with NCCP only. However, average NCCP severity did not differ between patients with PD and those with GAD (p = 0.901). The physical component of quality of life improved over time (p = 0.016) and was significantly lower in the subset of patients with PD with or without comorbid GAD compared to the other groups (p < .001). A significant time x group interaction was found for the mental component of quality of life (p = 0.0499). GAD with or without comorbid PD was associated with a lower mental quality of life, and this effect increased at the six-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Comorbid PD or GAD are prospectively associated with increased chest pain severity and lowered health-related quality of life in patients with NCCP. PD appears to be mainly associated with the physical component of quality of life, while GAD has a greater association with the mental component. Knowledge of these differences could help in the management of patients with NCCP and these comorbidities.

Palpitations in the Cancer Patient

Cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the leading causes of death worldwide. In response to the growing population of cancer patients and survivors with CVD, the sub-specialty of cardio-oncology has been developed to better optimise their care. Palpitations are one of the most common presenting complaints seen in the emergency room or by the primary care provider or cardiologist. Palpitations are defined as a rapid pulsation or abnormally rapid or irregular beating of the heart and present a complex diagnostic entity with no evidence-based guidelines currently available. Palpitations are a frequent occurrence in people with cancer, and investigations and treatment are comparable to that in the general population although there are some nuances. Cancer patients are at a higher risk of arrhythmogenic causes of palpitations and non-arrhythmogenic causes of palpitations. This review will appraise the literature with regards to the development and management of palpitations in the cancer patient.

Instant electrocardiogram feedback with a new digital technique reduces symptoms caused by palpitations and increases health-related quality of life (the RedHeart study)

AIMS

Palpitations, particularly common in women, are generally considered benign symptoms rarely caused by clinically important arrhythmias. Nevertheless, palpitations may cause anxiety, depression, and decreased health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study investigates to what degree palpitations cause symptoms such as anxiety and depression and affect HRQOL in women and whether direct feedback of underlying heart rhythm during palpitations decrease anxiety and depression and increase HRQOL in women.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study included 821 women, age 21-88 years (mean 57 ± 11 years), with symptomatic palpitations recruited using social media. For 60 days, the participants used a handheld electrocardiogram (ECG)-recording device (Coala Heart Monitor) connected to their smartphones. ECG was recorded twice a day and when symptoms were present and was automatically algorithm-interpreted with immediate response to the user. Non-benign arrhythmias were also analysed manually. Questionnaires addressing anxiety and depression-Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), HRQOL (RAND-36), and Symptoms Checklist: Frequency and Severity (SCL)-were analysed before and after the data were collected. A total of 101 804 ECG recordings were automatically analysed. In 94%, sinus rhythm or premature atrial/ventricular contraction were recorded; in 6%, atrial fibrillation or supraventricular tachycardia were recorded. Apart from premature ventricular contractions, no ventricular arrhythmias were documented. Anxiety and depression (HADS and GAD-7) decreased (P < 0.001) as did frequency and severity of symptoms, and HRQOL increased in all domains (P < 0.001) at the 2-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Instant analysis of the ECG with direct response during palpitations decreases symptoms, anxiety, and depression and increases HRQOL in women.

Evidence-Based Approach to Palpitations

Palpitations are a common presenting symptom in primary care, yet their cause can be difficult to diagnose due to their intermittent and sometimes infrequent nature. All patients presenting with a chief complaint of palpitations should undergo a detailed history, physical examination, and electrocardiogram (ECG). This alone can yield a probable diagnosis. Limited laboratory testing, ambulatory ECG monitoring, and cardiology referral are sometimes indicated. This article reviews current data and guidelines on how to evaluate palpitations in the primary care setting.

Physical activity and disability in patients with noncardiac chest pain: a longitudinal cohort study

BACKGROUND

Noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) is one of the leading reasons for emergency department visits and significantly limits patients' daily functioning. The protective effect of physical activity has been established in a number of pain problems, but its role in the course of NCCP is unknown. This study aimed to document the level of physical activity in patients with NCCP and its association with NCCP-related disability in the 6 months following an emergency department visit.

METHODS

In this prospective, longitudinal, cohort study, participants with NCCP were recruited in two emergency departments. They were contacted by telephone for the purpose of conducting a medical and sociodemographic interview, after which a set of questionnaires was sent to them. Participants were contacted again 6 months later for an interview aimed to assess their NCCP-related disability.

RESULTS

The final sample consisted of 279 participants (57.0% females), whose mean age was 54.6 (standard deviation = 15.3) years. Overall, the proportion of participants who were physically active in their leisure time, based on the Actimètre questionnaire criteria, was 22.0%. Being physically active at the first measurement time point was associated with a 38% reduction in the risk of reporting NCCP-related disability in the following 6 months (ρ = .047). This association remained significant after controlling for confounding variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Being physically active seems to have a protective effect on the occurrence of NCCP-related disability in the 6 months following an emergency department visit with NCCP. These results point to the importance of further exploring the benefits of physical activity in this population.

Efficacy of a Psychological Single-Session Intervention in Non-Cardiac Chest Pain

Abstract. Despite medical reassurance, non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) frequently persists. Psychological interventions seem promising, but single-session interventions (SSI) are under-studied. To analyze the efficacy of a SSI focusing on chest pain perceptions in a randomized controlled trial (RCT), and to identify predictors of pain persistence. Individuals presenting with NCCP to a cardiology unit were randomly assigned to SSI ( N = 54) or treatment as usual ( N = 59). Follow-up assessments were 1 month (FU1) and 6 months (FU2) later. Primary outcome measures were chest pain (German Pain Questionnaire) and chest pain perceptions (IPQ-B, Reassurance Scale). Two by Three ANOVAs revealed significant improvements over time, but against expectation no significant interaction with group. Health concern and cardiac attribution following cardiac testing predicted FU2 chest pain ( p’s ≤ .018). These predictors could serve as markers to identify individuals with a risk for persisting complaints, a group that may benefit from interventions addressing dysfunctional illness perceptions.

The Role of Disease Conviction: Exploring Its Effects on Chest Pain and Anxiety-Related Models of Non-cardiac Chest Pain

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of disease conviction in the chest pain and life interference of patients with non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP), after controlling for anxiety sensitivity and body vigilance. While all three psychological constructs are theoretically implicated and empirically associated with the experience of NCCP, no research has examined the influence of disease conviction in the context of other relevant constructs. The sample included 229 participants with NCCP who were recruited after a medical evaluation failed to elicit an organic explanation for their chest pain. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that while anxiety sensitivity significantly predicted chest pain severity and interference, only body vigilance contributed significant additional variance to chest pain severity, and only disease conviction contributed significant additional variance to chest pain interference. While anxiety sensitivity, body vigilance, and disease conviction all appear to affect those with NCCP, it seems that their impact is manifest in different domains (i.e., pain perception vs. psychosocial impairment).

Clinical Approach to Patients with Palpitations

Palpitations are among the most common symptoms that prompt patients to consult a physician. In the diagnostic workup of patients with palpitations, the initial evaluation involves history, physical examination, and 12-lead electrocardiogram. These investigations yield a prognostic stratification of the patients, and a definitive suspected diagnosis of the cause of symptoms in a good proportion of cases. When the initial evaluation results are negative and the patient is suffering from heart disease, or if the palpitations are frequent or poorly tolerated and with a high probability of an arrhythmic origin, ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring and/or electrophysiological study should be undertaken.

The associations between psychological distress and healthcare use in patients with non-cardiac chest pain: does a history of cardiac disease matter?

BACKGROUND

Psychological distress such as somatization, fear of body sensations, cardiac anxiety and depressive symptoms is common among patients with non-cardiac chest pain, and this may lead to increased healthcare use. However, the relationships between the psychological distress variables and healthcare use, and the differences in relation to history of cardiac disease in these patients has not been studied earlier. Therefore, our aim was to explore and model the associations between different variables of psychological distress (i.e. somatization, fear of body sensations, cardiac anxiety, and depressive symptoms) and healthcare use in patients with non-cardiac chest pain in relation to history of cardiac disease.

METHODS

In total, 552 patients with non-cardiac chest pain (mean age 64 years, 51% women) responded to the Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Body Sensations Questionnaire, Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and one question regarding number of healthcare visits. The relationships between the psychological distress variables and healthcare visits were analysed using Structural Equation Modeling in two models representing patients with or without history of cardiac disease.

RESULTS

A total of 34% of the patients had previous cardiac disease. These patients were older, more males, and reported more comorbidities, psychological distress and healthcare visits. In both models, no direct association between depressive symptoms and healthcare use was found. However, depressive symptoms had an indirect effect on healthcare use, which was mediated by somatization, fear of body sensations, and cardiac anxiety, and this effect was significantly stronger in patients with history of cardiac disease. Additionally, all the direct and indirect effects between depressive symptoms, somatization, fear of body sensations, cardiac anxiety, and healthcare use were significantly stronger in patients with history of cardiac disease.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with non-cardiac chest pain, in particular those with history of cardiac disease, psychological mechanisms play an important role for seeking healthcare. Development of interventions targeting psychological distress in these patients is warranted. Furthermore, there is also a need of more research to clarify as to whether such interventions should be tailored with regard to history of cardiac disease or not.

Heart-focused anxiety and health care seeking in patients with non-cardiac chest pain: A prospective study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to estimate the incidence of medical consultations six months after an emergency department (ED) consultation for non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP). It also investigated the role of heart-focused anxiety (HFA) and other factors in predicting an increased healthcare utilization in these patients.

METHOD

This was a prospective study of 428 patients who came to an ED with NCCP. Patients completed an interview and questionnaires assessing HFA, psychological distress, the characteristics of NCCP, and comorbidities. Their medical consultations were assessed by telephone interview six months later. The contribution of each factor was assessed using a binomial negative regression.

RESULTS

Eighty-three percent of patients reported at least one medical consultation (mean=3.1, standard deviation=3.9). HFA (incident rate ratio 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.02), the presence of a medical condition (2.14; 1.51-3.03), NCCP frequency (1.49; 1.16-1.91) and NCCP-related interference (1.08; 1.04-1.13) were predictive of further medical consultations.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of patients with NCCP are at risk of multiple medical consultations following discharge from the ED. HFA appears as a determinant of medical consultations after controlling for multiple confounding factors.

Factors associated with pain level in non-cardiac chest pain patients with comorbid panic disorder

Background

Panic disorder (PD) is highly prevalent in patients with non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP). This study aims to explore the role of psychological factors (PD intensity, anxiety sensitivity, heart-related fear, attention and avoidance) common to NCCP and PD in predicting chest pain levels in patients with both conditions.

Methods

This association was investigated in emergency department patients with NCCP and PD receiving either evidence-based treatment of PD or treatment as usual. Patients were assessed at baseline and 14 weeks later for post-treatment.

Results

Only heart-focused fear and attention for cardiac sensations independently explained a significant portion of the variance in baseline pain (n = 66). At 3 months follow-up (n = 53), changes in heart-related fear was the only factor independently associated with changes in chest pain intensity. Even in patients with PD, fear specific to cardiac sensations seems to play a central role in determining NCCP intensity.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the efficacy of intervention for patients with PD and comorbid NCCP could be improved by targeting heart-related fear and attention.

Trial registration

NCT00736346

Relationship Between Palpitation and Mental Health

Background:

‘Palpitation’ is one of the most common complaints in patients referring to cardiologists. In modern medicine era, these patients suffer from much distress and some cases are known to be difficult to treat. Although the clinician’s first duty is obviously to search for an organic basis for this symptom, the diagnostic evaluation is frequently unrevealing. However, clinical experience suggests that psychiatric causes are relatively common.

Objectives:

This research aimed to screen for mental disorders in patients complaining of palpitation and healthy persons in order to perform a preliminary comparison between them.

Patients and Methods:

This is a case-control study to screen mental disorders. The target population consisted of adult volunteers with benign palpitation and their matched healthy persons. They were referred during a 10-month-period to the cardiology outpatient’s clinic of Mostafa Khomeini hospital in Tehran, Iran. Sampling was accidental and eventually 110 participants comprised the sample size. The measuring tool was GHQ-28 (28-item general health questionnaire) and the main variable was the questionnaire score obtained from the Likert scoring method.

Results:

Comparing two groups showed that the number of participants with the scores more than cut-off point in palpitation group was significantly more than healthy person group (85.4% vs. 43.6% with P < 0.001). Also the total score of GHQ-28 and scores of its subscale (somatization, anxiety, and social dysfunction) in patients complaining of palpitation were significantly more than those of the healthy participants (34.2 vs. 25.7, 8.9 vs. 6.4, 9.4 vs. 6.4, and 12.3 vs. 10.8, respectively with P < 0.001, P = 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.007, respectively).

Conclusions:

Palpitation is the most common symptom in psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and somatization disorders. According to the results of this study, psychiatric causes have an important role in Iranian patients complaining of palpitations (benign form). Considering this fact may lead to a more effective treatment of benign palpitations.

Illness perceptions, negative emotions, and pain in patients with noncardiac chest pain

Illness-specific cognitions are associated with outcomes in numerous health conditions, however, little is known about their role in noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). NCCP is prevalent, impairing, and associated with elevated health care utilization. Our objective was to investigate the relations between illness perceptions, emotion, and pain in a sample of 196 adult patients diagnosed with NCCP. We found that negative illness perceptions were associated with greater anxiety, depression, chest pain, and pain-related life interference while controlling for the effects of demographic and pain-related variables. These results expand current NCCP theory and may inform future treatment development.

Heart palpitation relief with Melissa officinalis leaf extract: double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of efficacy and safety

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM), Melissa officinalis L. is commonly regarded as an effective therapy for heart palpitations.

OBJECTIVE

Heart palpitation is a common complaint that is often benign and associated with a marked distress that makes the condition difficult to treat. Herbal medicines provide an alternative to conventional drugs for treating various kinds of diseases. This study was done as a double blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the dried extract of M. officinalis on adults suffering from benign palpitations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eligible volunteers were randomly assigned as outpatients to a 14 day treatment with 500 mg twice a day of lyophilized aqueous extract of M. officinalis leaves (or placebo). Participants in the tests, physicians and researchers were blind to group assignments. Both primary and secondary outcomes were patient-reported. Primary outcomes were obtained from two measures: mean frequency of palpitation episodes per week, derived from patients׳ diaries, and mean intensity of palpitation estimated through Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in a self-report questionnaire. Psychiatric symptoms (somatization, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression) were evaluated as secondary outcomes by General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), before and after intervention.

RESULTS

Fifty-five volunteers out of 71 recruited study subjects completed the trial. Results showed that 14-day of treatment with lyophilized aqueous extract of M. officinalis leaves reduced frequency of palpitation episodes and significantly reduced the number of anxious patients in comparison to the placebo (P=0.0001, P=0.004 resp.). Also, M. officinalis extract showed no indication of any serious side effects.

CONCLUSION

Lyophilized aqueous extract of M. officinalis leaves may be a proper and safe herbal drug for the treatment of benign palpitations.

Evaluation of alexithymia, somatosensory sensitivity, and health anxiety levels in patients with noncardiac chest pain

Objective. Noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) is seen more frequently in young population and in these patients loss of function is evolving in social and professional areas. The aim of the study is to evaluate the levels of anxiety and somatic perception in patients with chest pain presenting to cardiology clinic. Methods. Fifty-one patients with noncardiac chest pain and 51 healthy controls were included in the study. All participants performed self-report based health anxiety inventory (HAI), somatosensory amplification scale (SAS), and Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS). Results. The patient group had significantly higher scores on the SAS, HAI-1, and HAI-T scales compared to controls (P < 0.001, P = 0.006, and P = 0.038, resp.). SAS, HAI-1, and HAI-T scores were significantly higher in female patients than male (P = 0.002, 0.036, and 0.039, resp.). There were significant differences in all TAS subscale scores between two groups. Patients, who had total TAS score more than 50, also presented higher levels of health anxiety (P = 0.045). Conclusions. Anxiety, somatic symptoms, and the exaggerated sense of bodily sensations are common in patients with NCCP. These patients unnecessarily occupy the cardiology outpatient clinics. These negative results can be eliminated when consultation-liaison psychiatry evaluates these patients in collaboration with cardiology departments.

Quality of life in patients with non-CAD chest pain: associations to fear of pain and psychiatric disorder severity

Chest pain in the absence of identified cardiac cause, or non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP), is a common condition that may result in impaired quality of life. Theories of NCCP put forward that patients who react to cardiopulmonary sensations with fear may avoid activities that elicit cardiac sensations. Co-morbid psychiatric disorders, which are prevalent in this population, may predispose individuals to be more vigilant to physiological sensations, including cardiac-related symptoms. The daily impact of avoiding cardiopulmonary cues may limit quality of life. This study examined psychiatric disorders, fear of pain, and quality of life in 30 non-coronary artery disease (CAD) chest pain patients. Psychiatric disorder severity was independently associated with mental health related quality of life and fear of pain was independently associated with physical health related quality of life. This research adds understanding to contributory factors to impaired quality of life among patients with non-CAD chest pain.

Heart palpitation from traditional and modern medicine perspectives

Background:

Palpitation is a sign of a disease and is very common in general population. For this purpose we decided to explain it in this study.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to describe the palpitation in both modern and traditional medicine aspect. It may help us to diagnose and cure better because the traditional medicine view is holistic and different from modern medicine.

Materials and Methods:

We addressed some descriptions to the articles of traditional medicine subjects which have published recently. Palpitation in modern medicine was extracted from medical books such as Braunwald, Harrison and Guyton physiology and some related articles obtained from authentic journals in PubMed and Ovid and Google scholar between1990 to 2013.

Results:

According to modern medicine, there are many causes for palpitation and in some cases it is cured symptomatically. In traditional medicine view, palpitation has been explained completely and many causes have been described. Its aspect is holistic and it cures causatively. The traditional medicine scientists evaluated the body based on Humors and temperament. Temperament can be changed to dis-temperament in diseases. Humors are divided in 4 items: sanguine, humid or phlegm, melancholy and bile. Palpitation is a disease, it is heart vibration and is caused by an abnormal substance in the heart itself or its membrane or other adjacent organs that would result in the heart suffering.

Conclusions:

Our data of this article suggests that causes of palpitation in the aspect of traditional medicine are completely different from modern medicine. It can help us to approach and treat this symptom better and with lower side effects than chemical drugs. According to this article we are able to detect a new approach in palpitation.

Exploring the information needs of patients with unexplained chest pain

BACKGROUND

Unexplained chest pain is a common condition. Despite negative findings, a large number of these patients will continue to suffer from chest pain after being investigated at cardiac outpatient clinics. Unexplained chest pain covers many possible complaints, and diagnosing a single cause for a patient's pain is often described as difficult, as there are a number of possible factors that can contribute to the condition. For health professionals to meet patients' expectations, they must know more about the information needs of patients with unexplained chest pain. The aim of this study was to describe information needs among patients with unexplained chest pain and how those needs were met by health professionals during medical consultations.

METHODS

A qualitative design was used. Data were collected by means of seven individual interviews with four women and three men, aged 21-62 years. The interviews were analyzed by qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

The results are described in two subthemes, ie, "experiencing lack of focus on individual problems" and "experiencing unanswered questions". These were further abstracted under the main theme "experiencing unmet information needs".

CONCLUSION

Existing models of consultations should be complemented to include a person-centered approach to meeting patients' beliefs, perceptions, and expressions of feelings related to experiencing unexplained chest pain. This is in line with a biopsychosocial model with active patient participation, shared decision-making, and a multidisciplinary approach. Such an approach is directly within the domain of nursing, and aims to take into account patient experience.

A brief cognitive-behavioral intervention for treating depression and panic disorder in patients with noncardiac chest pain: a 24-week randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Most patients with noncardiac chest pain experience anxiety and depressive symptoms. Commonly they are reassured and referred back to primary care, leaving them undiagnosed and untreated. Some small studies have suggested efficacy of 12 cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) sessions. Our aim was to examine efficacy of brief CBT in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with noncardiac chest pain and comorbid panic and/or depressive disorders.

METHODS

In this 24-week randomized controlled trial comparing CBT (n = 60) versus treatment as usual (TAU, n = 53), we included all adults who presented at the cardiac emergency unit of a university hospital with noncardiac chest pain, scored ≥8 on the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and were diagnosed with a comorbid panic and/or depressive disorder with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. CBT consisted of six individual sessions. Main outcome was disease severity assessed with the clinical global inventory (CGI) by a blinded independent rater.

RESULTS

ANCOVA in the intention-to-treat and completer sample showed that CBT was superior to TAU after 24 weeks in reducing disease severity assessed with CGI (P < .001). Secondary outcomes on anxiety (HADS-anxiety, state trait anxiety inventory (STAI)-trait) and depressive symptoms (Hamilton depression rating scale) were in line with these results except for HADS-depression (P = .10), fear questionnaire (P = .13), and STAI-state (P = .11).

CONCLUSIONS

Brief CBT significantly reduces anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with noncardiac chest pain who are diagnosed with panic and/or depressive disorders. Patients presenting with noncardiac chest pain should be screened for psychopathology and if positive, CBT should be considered.

Change and Impact of Illness Perceptions among Patients with Non-cardiac Chest Pain or Benign Palpitations Following Three Sessions of CBT

Background: Many patients with non-cardiac chest pain or benign palpitations have poor prognosis in terms of symptom persistence, limitations in everyday activities, and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Aims: The aims of the study were to evaluate the changes and impact of illness perceptions during a three-session cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention for patients with non-cardiac chest pain or benign palpitations. Method: Patients with persistent complaints 6 months after a negative cardiac evaluation were invited to participate in a randomized controlled trial. Patients in the intervention group (n = 21) received three manualized sessions with CBT, including one physical activity exposure session; the control group (n = 19) received usual care from their general practitioner. Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) was used to measure illness perceptions. Patients were assessed at start and end of the intervention and at 3- and 12-month follow-up. Results: The intervention and control group differed significantly on five of the eight items of BIPQ at least at one follow-up assessment. At end of treatment and at 3-month follow-up change in illness concern (Item 6 in BIPQ) mediated about 40% of the change in depression from baseline, and at 12-month follow-up about 50% of the change in depression was mediated by change in personal control (Item 3 in BIPQ). Conclusion: Illness perceptions measured with BIPQ may mediate the short and long term treatment effects of a three-session CBT-programme for patients with non-cardiac chest pain and benign palpitations.

Health care utilisation in patients with non-cardiac chest pain: a longitudinal analysis of chest pain, anxiety and interoceptive fear

Chest pain can be a frightening experience that leads many to seek medical evaluation. The symptom results in costly health care utilisation. Over half of patients referred for cardiac evaluations of chest pain do not obtain definitive medical explanations for their symptoms; these cases are described as non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP). Some patients with NCCP are not reassured after being informed their chest pain is non-cardiac in origin and seek repeated medical evaluation. Co-morbid anxiety and mood disorders often coexist with NCCP and are associated with health care utilisation. The current study examined chest pain, general anxiety, interoceptive fear and health care utilisation in a sample of 196 chest pain patients near the time of cardiac evaluation (Time 1), and 70 of these patients one year later (Time 2). Results indicate that anxiety and interoceptive fear were significantly associated with health care utilisation at Time 1, and only interoceptive fear (at Time 1) predicted health care utilisation at Time 2. This study develops research in this area by examining the relation of anxiety and health care utilisation longitudinally in patients with NCCP.

Cognitive-perceptual factors in noncardiac chest pain and cardiac chest pain

OBJECTIVE

Noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) is a common condition associated with considerable patient distress and substantial healthcare costs. Our aim was to investigate associations between illness perceptions, anxiety sensitivity, somatic amplification, and experience of chest pain, and to assess whether a multifactorial model including these factors can distinguish patients with NCCP from patients with cardiac chest pain (CCP).

METHODS

A total of 240 patients with chest pain answered questionnaires concerning anxiety sensitivity (Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3), somatic amplification (Somatosensory Amplification Scale), illness perceptions (Illness Perception Questionnaire-Brief, health concerns, and heart disease conviction), and pain characteristics (intensity, disability, and frequency) before the evaluation of chest pain causation. They were classified as having NCCP or CCP by cardiac angiography. Partial correlation analyses and binary logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Seventy percent of patients with chest pain were classified as having NCCP. A range of cognitive-perceptual factors were associated with the experience of chest pain. On multivariate analyses, the only psychological factor found to differentiate NCCP from CCP was elevated somatic amplification (relative risk = 1.06, 95% confidence interval = 1.00-1.13).

CONCLUSIONS

The current DSM-5 proposal with regard to somatic symptom disorder recommends using psychological factors as diagnostic criteria for medically unexplained symptoms while placing less emphasis on the criterion of lack of somatic causation. In this study, an association between pain characteristics and cognitive-perceptual factors was found both for patients with NCCP and for patients with CCP. We found no evidence for a specific profile of psychological characteristics distinguishing patients with NCCP from patients with CCP, except for somatic amplification.

Illness perception among patients with chest pain and palpitations before and after negative cardiac evaluation

BACKGROUND

Patients with chest pain or palpitations often have poor outcomes following a negative cardiac evaluation, with symptom persistence, limitations in everyday activities, and reduced health-related quality of life. The aims of this study were to evaluate illness perceptions before and after negative cardiac evaluations and measure the ability of a self-report questionnaire to predict outcomes.

METHODS

Patients (N = 138) referred for chest pain or palpitations to a cardiac outpatient clinic were assessed before and six months after a negative cardiac evaluation. In addition to Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), all patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory and SF-36 Health Survey.

RESULTS

The emotional reactions to and understanding of symptoms had not improved six months after a negative cardiac evaluation. A stronger correlation between illness perceptions and health at follow-up than before the cardiac evaluation might explain the tendency for poor outcomes among these patients. Most of the eight BIPQ item scores before the negative cardiac evaluation were predictive of the outcome six months later. A single question asking about the perceived consequences of the complaints (BIPQ Item 1) rated before the cardiac evaluation was collapsed into a dichotomous variable with a cut-off at ≥4 which yields a sensitivity of 51%, a specificity of 85%, a positive predictive value of 71%, a negative predictive value of 69%, and an odds ratio of 5.7 (r = .38, p < .001) in predicting poor outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessing illness perceptions is important in patients with negative cardiac tests for understanding and predicting outcomes.

Panic attack triggering myocardial ischemia documented by myocardial perfusion imaging study. A case report

BACKGROUND

Chest pain, a key element in the investigation of coronary artery disease is often regarded as a benign prognosis when present in panic attacks. However, panic disorder has been suggested as an independent risk factor for long-term prognosis of cardiovascular diseases and a trigger of acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE

Faced with the extreme importance in differentiate from ischemic to non-ischemic chest pain, we report a case of panic attack induced by inhalation of 35% carbon dioxide triggering myocardial ischemia, documented by myocardial perfusion imaging study.

DISCUSSION

Panic attack is undoubtedly a strong component of mental stress. Patients with coronary artery disease may present myocardial ischemia in mental stress response by two ways: an increase in coronary vasomotor tone or a sympathetic hyperactivity leading to a rise in myocardial oxygen consumption. Coronary artery spasm was presumed to be present in cases of cardiac ischemia linked to panic disorder. Possibly the carbon dioxide challenge test could trigger myocardial ischemia by the same mechanisms.

CONCLUSION

The use of mental stress has been suggested as an alternative method for myocardial ischemia investigation. Based on translational medicine objectives the use of CO2 challenge followed by Sestamibi SPECT could be a useful method to allow improved application of research-based knowledge to the medical field, specifically at the interface of PD and cardiovascular disease.

The impact of perceived stress and perceived control on anxiety and mood disorders in noncardiac chest pain

Chest pain without detectable heart disease, noncardiac chest pain (NCCP), is linked with anxiety and depression. Theory posits stress and perceived control may relate to NCCP. We hypothesized stress would have direct and mediated effects via perceived control on anxiety and mood disorders in NCCP. Patients ( N = 113) completed questionnaires and a structured diagnostic interview. Stress and perceived control were associated with anxiety and mood disorder severity. Perceived control fully mediated the relation between stress and mood disorder severity but not anxiety disorder severity. Results are partially supportive of anxiety-based theories of NCCP.

Alexithymia and anxiety sensitivity in patients with non-cardiac chest pain

The aim of this study was to examine independent and combined influences of alexithymia and anxiety sensitivity on chest pain and life interference in patients with non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP). Theories of NCCP posit a central role for emotion in the experience of chest pain, however, studies have not examined how alexithymia characterized by a difficulty identifying or verbalizing emotions, may influence this relationship. This study examined 231 patients (56% females, M age=50 years) with chest pain seeking cardiac evaluation, who showed no abnormalities during exercise tolerance testing. Forty percent (40%) scored at or above the moderate range of alexithymia. Whereas health care utilization was associated with elevated alexithymia among men, health care utilization was associated with elevated anxiety sensitivity among women. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that alexithymia and anxiety sensitivity were both uniquely and independently associated with pain severity and life interference due to pain. Alexithymia-pain links were stronger for men compared to women. Secondary analyses conducted with a subsample suggest that alexithymia may be increasingly stable over time (i.e., 18-month follow-up). Findings are largely congruent with theoretical models of NCCP showing that personality and emotional factors are important in this medically unexplained syndrome.

Effects of coping skills training and sertraline in patients with non-cardiac chest pain: a randomized controlled study

Non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) is a common and distressing condition. Prior studies suggest that psychotropic medication or pain coping skills training (CST) may benefit NCCP patients. To our knowledge, no clinical trials have examined the separate and combined effects of CST and psychotropic medication in the management of NCCP. This randomized clinical trial examined the separate and combined effects of CST and antidepressant medication (sertraline) in participants with non-cardiac chest pain. A sample of individuals diagnosed with NCCP was randomly assigned to one of four treatments: (1) CST plus sertraline (CST+sertraline), (2) CST plus placebo (CST+placebo), (3) sertraline alone, or (4) placebo alone. Assessments of pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, anxiety, pain catastrophizing, depression, and physical disability were collected prior to treatment, and at 10- and 34-weeks following randomization. Data analyses revealed that CST and sertraline either alone or in combination significantly reduced pain intensity and pain unpleasantness. The combination of CST plus sertraline may have the greatest promise in that, when compared to placebo alone, it not only significantly reduced pain but also pain catastrophizing and anxiety. Overall, these findings support the importance of further research on the effects of CST and sertraline for non-cardiac chest pain.

A psychological intervention for pediatric chest pain: development and open trial

OBJECTIVE

Noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) is a common and persistent problem for children and adolescents; typically there is no clear medical cause. To date, no psychological intervention has been studied for chest pain in a pediatric sample.

METHODS

(a) We developed a brief psychological treatment for chest pain and associated worry in children and adolescents with NCCP. This program includes psychoeducation, breathing retraining, cognitive coping strategies, and 1 session of parent education and coaching regarding the impact of reinforcement on pain and coping behaviors. (b) We treated 9 youngsters with chronic NCCP, assessing pain, somatization, disability, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and coping. Assessments were conducted before, after, and 6 months following treatment.

RESULTS

After treatment, there was a significant decrease in chest pain and somatization. Benefits were maintained at 6-month follow-up. There was no decrease in associated psychological symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

A brief psychological treatment for pediatric NCCP is feasible to administer and may help alleviate symptoms of pediatric NCCP. Further study in a randomized trial is needed.

Heart-focused anxiety as a mediating variable in the treatment of noncardiac chest pain by cognitive-behavioral therapy and paroxetine

OBJECTIVE

We compared the efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), paroxetine and placebo in the treatment of noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). We also investigated whether pre- to mid-treatment reduction of (heart-focused) anxiety mediated mid- to post-treatment pain reduction.

METHODS

Sixty-nine adults with NCCP were randomly assigned to 16 weeks of outpatient treatment with CBT, paroxetine or placebo. The comparison between placebo and paroxetine was carried out in a double-blind fashion. The main outcome measure was a chest pain index (duration*intensity) as derived from daily pain diaries. Putative mediator measures were general anxiety (HADS:A) and heart-focused anxiety (Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire).

RESULTS

Eleven patients treated with paroxetine or placebo dropped out prematurely. Intent-to-treat analysis showed that CBT was significantly superior to placebo and to paroxetine in reducing NCCP at posttreatment. Only CBT significantly reduced heart-focused anxiety compared to placebo at mid- and post-treatment. Pre- to mid-treatment reduction of heart-focused anxiety predicted mid- to post-treatment NCCP reduction. The indirect effect of CBT on pain reduction by reducing heart-focused anxiety was significant compared to placebo but not to paroxetine.

CONCLUSION

CBT is an effective treatment option for patients with NCCP. Paroxetine is not more effective than placebo on the short term. Reduction of heart-focused anxiety by CBT seems to mediate subsequent reduction of NCCP compared to placebo. The results provide further support for cognitive-behavioral models of NCCP and point to the potential benefits of, in particular, cognitive-behavioral interventions to modify heart-focused anxiety.

Patients with noncardiac chest pain and benign palpitations referred for cardiac outpatient investigation: a 6-month follow-up

OBJECTIVES

The aims were to (a) study the characteristics and outcome in patients with noncardiac chest pain or benign palpitations referred for cardiac evaluation, (b) compare psychological characteristics in the two groups, (c) identify predictors of outcome (d) and explore characteristics of patients who wanted psychological treatment.

METHODS

The patients (N=154) were first evaluated by a psychiatrist and than by a cardiologist at the initial attendance and by self report after 6 months.

RESULTS

Thirty nine percent had at least one DSM-IV psychiatric disorder at attendance. At the 6-month follow-up, 43% still had clinically significant complaints and/or impaired function. Patients with palpitations were more likely to be female, younger and less likely to attribute cardiac symptoms to heart disease, but had otherwise similar psychological features to noncardiac chest pain patients. Depression score at attendance predicted significant complaints at follow-up. Interest in psychological treatment was associated with more fear of bodily sensations, more impaired function, and greater tendency to attribute symptoms to heart disease.

CONCLUSION

Psychiatric disorders were common. The 6-month outcome was poor and was associated with the depression score at attendance. Patients with fear of bodily symptoms and impaired function were most interested in psychological treatment.

Anxiety and hypervigilance to cardiopulmonary sensations in non-cardiac chest pain patients with and without psychiatric disorders

We investigated body vigilance, cardiac anxiety, and the mediating role of interoceptive fear on pain in patients with non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP; a syndrome of chest pain in the absence of identifiable organic etiology). Patients were more attentive to cardiac-congruent sensations than cardiac-incongruent sensations (e.g., gastrointestinal, cognitive dyscontrol; p's < .001). Patients with a DSM-IV Axis I anxiety or mood disorder were more body vigilant compared to patients who did not have a disorder (p's < .05). Patients with anxiety disorders were particularly vigilant to and fearful of cardiac sensations relative to patients without anxiety disorders. Latent variable path models examined the extent that interoceptive fear mediated the association between body vigilance and cardiac anxiety on chest pain. Within each model, diagnostic status, body vigilance, and cardiac anxiety were exogenous and predicted interoceptive fear that in turn predicted pain. Separate models examined body vigilance and cardiac anxiety, and both models fit the data well. Findings showed partial mediation for the body vigilance factor, and full mediation for the cardiac anxiety factor. Interoceptive fear played a mediating role in both models. The syndrome of NCCP may persist partly due to conscious hypervigilance to and fear of cardiac-congruent body sensations, particularly among anxious patients.

Pain catastrophizing in patients with noncardiac chest pain: relationships with pain, anxiety, and disability

OBJECTIVE

To examine the contributions of chest pain, anxiety, and pain catastrophizing to disability in 97 patients with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) and to test whether chest pain and anxiety were related indirectly to greater disability via pain catastrophizing.

METHODS

Participants completed daily diaries measuring chest pain for 7 days before completing measures of pain catastrophizing, trait anxiety, and disability. Linear path model analyses examined the contributions of chest pain, trait anxiety, and catastrophizing to physical disability, psychosocial disability, and disability in work, home, and recreational activities.

RESULTS

Path models accounted for a significant amount of the variability in disability scales (R(2) = 0.35 to 0.52). Chest pain and anxiety accounted for 46% of the variance in pain catastrophizing. Both chest pain (beta = 0.18, Sobel test Z = 2.58, p < .01) and trait anxiety (beta = 0.14, Sobel test Z = 2.11, p < .05) demonstrated significant indirect relationships with physical disability via pain catastrophizing. Chest pain demonstrated a significant indirect relationship with psychosocial disability via pain catastrophizing (beta = 0.12, Sobel test Z = 1.96, p = .05). After controlling for the effects of chest pain and anxiety, pain catastrophizing was no longer related to disability in work, home, and recreational activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Chest pain and anxiety were directly related to greater disability and indirectly related to physical and psychosocial disability via pain catastrophizing. Efforts to improve functioning in patients with NCCP should consider addressing pain catastrophizing.

Paradoxical ozone associations could be due to methyl nitrite from combustion of methyl ethers or esters in engine fuels

We review studies of the effects of low ambient ozone concentrations on morbidity that found a negative coefficient for ozone concentration. We call this a Paradoxical Ozone Association (POA). All studies were in regions with methyl ether in gasoline. All but one study carefully controlled for the effects of other criterion pollutants, so the phenomenon cannot be attributed to them. One was in southern California in mid-summer when ozone levels are highest. Because ozone is created by sunlight, the most plausible explanation for a POA would be an ambient pollutant that is rapidly destroyed by sunlight, such as methyl nitrite (MN). A previously published model of engine exhaust chemistry suggested methyl ether in the fuel will create MN in the exhaust. MN is known to be highly toxic, and closely related alkyl nitrites are known to induce respiratory sensitivity in humans. Support for the interpretation comes from many studies, including three linking asthma symptoms to methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and the observation that a POA has not been seen in regions without ether in gasoline. We also note that studies in southern California show a historical trend from more significant to less significant ozone-health associations. The timing of those changes is consistent with the known timing of the introduction of gasoline oxygenated with MTBE in that region.

Chest wall syndrome among primary care patients: a cohort study

Background

The epidemiology of chest pain differs strongly between outpatient and emergency settings. In general practice, the most frequent cause is the chest wall pain. However, there is a lack of information about the characteristics of this syndrome. The aims of the study are to describe the clinical aspects of chest wall syndrome (CWS).

Methods

Prospective, observational, cohort study of patients attending 58 private practices over a five-week period from March to May 2001 with undifferentiated chest pain. During a one-year follow-up, questionnaires including detailed history and physical exam, were filled out at initial consultation, 3 and 12 months. The outcomes were: clinical characteristics associated with the CWS diagnosis and clinical evolution of the syndrome.

Results

Among 24 620 consultations, we observed 672 cases of chest pain and 300 (44.6%) patients had a diagnosis of chest wall syndrome. It affected all ages with a sex ratio of 1:1. History and sensibility to palpation were the keys for diagnosis. Pain was generally moderate, well localised, continuous or intermittent over a number of hours to days or weeks, and amplified by position or movement. The pain however, may be acute. Eighty-eight patients were affected at several painful sites, and 210 patients at a single site, most frequently in the midline or a left-sided site. Pain was a cause of anxiety and cardiac concern, especially when acute. CWS coexisted with coronary disease in 19 and neoplasm in 6. Outcome at one year was favourable even though CWS recurred in half of patients.

Conclusion

CWS is common and benign, but leads to anxiety and recurred frequently. Because the majority of chest wall pain is left-sided, the possibility of coexistence with coronary disease needs careful consideration.

Experiences and concerns among patients being treated for atypical chest pain

BACKGROUND

Many patients who are discharged from the hospital without receiving a clear-cut diagnosis of their chest pain continue to consume health care because of disabling physical and psychological symptoms. By identifying their experiences and concerns following hospitalization, an empirical basis for discussions on ways of improving the care of these particular patients will be obtained.

METHODS

A qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with 38 patients with a diagnosis of unspecified chest pain was carried out.

RESULTS

Two-thirds of the respondents had unanswered questions and concerns that had not been addressed. They found it difficult to understand why they had not undergone more tests. They requested an explanation for their chest pain, at the very least, or were worried about the future. Some respondents accepted the fact that they had not been given a sufficient amount of time and information. They referred to the stressful working situation of the physicians, the view that their admission could be regarded as unnecessary or that physicians at the hospital could not be expected to do more than exclude serious diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Health professionals should address their patients' questions and fears properly and provide them with the most probable explanation for their symptoms. When taking the harmlessness of their symptoms or the situation of their caregivers into account, patients may find it inappropriate to impose further demands on care.

A study of lifetime prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders in patients presenting with chest pain to emergency medicine

We studied the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders in patients with chest pain presenting to an emergency department. Majority of the patients had coronary artery disease (CAD). Twenty-three percent of patients with chest pain had a diagnosable psychiatric disorder according to ICD-10 research criteria. Anxiety and depressive disorders were equally distributed among patients with concomitant psychiatric syndrome. The level of psychological distress as measured on hospital anxiety and depression scale in patients of CAD with comorbid psychiatric syndrome was significantly more than patients with CAD alone and similar to non-CAD patients with psychiatric disorder. This finding is in agreement with an earlier study suggesting that the psychological distress seen in patients with CAD is related to the comorbid psychiatric condition and not to CAD.

Psychological treatments for noncardiac chest pain: recommendations for a new approach

OBJECTIVE

Our objective is to describe the current state of treatment for NCCP, identify barriers to treatment and limitations of current approaches, and to recommend treatment strategies, which may address these challenges.

METHODS

We describe the underlying rationale for treating NCCP and review the current literature concerning NCCP treatments and other brief approaches to outpatient treatment for psychosomatic illness.

RESULTS

Most treatments for NCCP have been based on the Attribution Model. Although effective, these treatments are appropriate and acceptable to only a small minority of NCCP patients. The Biopsychosocial Model has been used to treat psychosomatic conditions in outpatient groups and may overcome or avoid many of the limitations inherent in current treatment strategies for NCCP.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend an intervention for NCCP that is brief, would be delivered in the emergency department setting (to take advantage of the Teachable Moment), and which is based on the Biopsychosocial Model.

Psychological and perceptual factors associated with arrhythmias and benign palpitations

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about how patients who seek medical help for benign palpitations can be distinguished from those with clinically significant arrhythmias. This study tested whether patients with arrhythmia can be distinguished from those who are aware of sinus rhythm or extrasystoles on the basis of sex, prevalence of anxiety disorders, and heartbeat perception.

METHODS

A consecutive sample of patients referred to a cardiology clinic participated in the study. Patients were diagnosed as having either arrhythmia (N = 62), extrasystoles (N = 75), or awareness of sinus rhythm (N = 47). They were assessed with use of the anxiety disorders and hypochondriasis modules of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Both patients and control subjects (N = 35) answered questionnaires measuring anxiety, fear of bodily sensations, and depression and underwent a heartbeat perception test. The present report focuses on patients who had palpitations but no comorbid cardiovascular disease.

RESULTS

Patients with awareness of sinus rhythm could be distinguished from those with arrhythmia by several variables: female sex, higher prevalence of panic disorder, poor performance on the heartbeat perception test, report of palpitations when doing the test, higher heart rates, lower levels of physical activity, and (as trends) a greater prevalence of panic attacks, fear of bodily sensations, and depression. In contrast, patients with arrhythmias rarely reported palpitations when doing the test but were more likely to perceive their heartbeats accurately than patients with sinus rhythm and control subjects. Performance on the heartbeat perception test was intermediate in patients with extrasystoles; these patients also had an intermediate prevalence of panic disorder and intermediate depression scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Measures of panic disorder and a simple heartbeat perception test could complement medical assessment in the diagnosis of patients who seek medical help for palpitations. The results also have implications for the treatment of patients with benign palpitations.

The development of agoraphobia in panic disorder: a predictable process?

BACKGROUND

Panic attacks are conceptualized to be the central feature of both panic disorder without (PDU) and with agoraphobia (PDA). As a sizeable percentage of panic patients do not develop avoidance behavior, other factors than 'panic attacks', in general, must influence the different courses of the disorder.

METHOD

We studied 84 outpatients suffering from PDU or PDA concerning different factors which were hypothesized to influence the development of agoraphobia.

RESULTS

'Earlier age of onset', 'fear of losing control' and 'chills or hot flushes' turned out to correlate statistically significantly with PDA, while 'chest pain or discomfort' occurred more often in PDU.

LIMITATIONS

The present study used retrospective data.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that the development of agoraphobia in panic disorder is influenced by specific variables and is not a purely coincidental process.

The Illness Attitude Scales in chest pain patients: a study of psychometric properties

The main aim of the study was to assess the factorial structure of the Illness Attitude Scales (IAS). The study population comprised 199 patients referred to cardiological out-patient investigation because of chest pain. The factor analysis revealed three factors of the IAS. Accordingly, we found three subscales, interpreted as health anxiety (HA), illness behavior (IB), and health habits (HH). The internal consistency of the subscales, measured by Cronbach's alpha coefficient, were 0.92, 0.80, and 0.49, respectively. The HA and IB scores were significantly intercorrelated (r = 0.39, p < 0.001), but HH was not significantly correlated with either HA or IB. The HA and IB subscales discriminated between patients with and without panic disorder. The results support previous findings, namely that the IAS comprise two subscales with psychometrically sound properties. Correlational analysis indicated validity of the two subscales. Further studies are needed to confirm the validity.

Symptomatic myocardial ischemia and everyday life: implications for clinical use of interactive monitoring

In coronary heart disease (CHD), pathological myocardial ischemic changes do not always occur with the symptom of heart pain. Methodological problems make it difficult to examine the factors that influence silent and symptomatic myocardial ischemia in everyday life. This study uses a computer-assisted monitoring system with an interactive Holter ECG, an actometer, and an electronic diary. Self-report measurements indicate that symptomatic patients tend toward increased neuroticism, whereas asymptomatic patients engage in beneficial and active coping skills more frequently. The results of the monitoring study demonstrate the same degree of ischemia in silent and symptomatic episodes. However, these episodes show differences in certain psychological context variables. Symptomatic episodes are linked to high subjective strain and severe tension. Because angina pectoris is not a reliable warning signal of myocardial ischemia, the use of the interactive monitoring system is recommended for educating CHD patients on how to cope with excessive strain in everyday life.