Post-traumatic Stress Disorders amongpatients with Myocardial Infarction in Mosul city

Abstract

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any forms of traumatic events including myocardial infarction (MI). PTSD after MI may affect quality of life and cardiovascular outcome.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the degree of severity of the core symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in MI patients, to signify Post-traumatic Stress Disorders among MI patients according to their age, sex and severity, to define the full range of core symptoms of depression and anxiety, meet difficult standards of psychometric adequacy in MI patients.

Methodology: A descriptive study, design was applied in Ibn sena teaching hospital, in Mosul city for period of 14^th, May, 2012 to 1^st, September, 2012 in order to achieve the objectives of the present study. The study subjects consist of54 patients who were diagnosed with myocardial infarction in Ibn sena teaching hospital, their age ranges between (40-89) years. In the present study Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS,1995) was used to diagnose patients with Depression Anxiety and Stress.

Results: The severity of Post-traumatic Stress Disorders in MI patients shows that most of patients had moderate stress disorders which constituted 48% while 55%of them had extremely severe anxiety, and on depression scale had moderate and severe. The majority of male had moderate stress disorders which constituted (48.5%), while (69.5%) of female had extremely severe anxiety disorder and the majority of female had server depression.

Conclusions: The study highlighted the development of PTSD after MI. Anxiety disorders are more severe than depression and stress disorders. Anxiety disorders have the highest percentage and frequency among female. Depression disorders has the highest percentage and frequency and found in age group (50-59).

Recommendations: Integration care of patient with myocardial infarction in all spectrums (psychiatry, healthy, socially, and educationally). Psychiatrists and nurses must be aware of increased prevalence of PTSD after MI and importance of early detection of any suspected case and referral to Psychiatric research unit.