Anxiety and/or Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Paroxysmal Supraventicular Tachycardia

Overview

The vast majority of cases of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia consist of either AV nodal reentry (AVNRT) or AV reentry (AVRT) in the presence of an accessory pathway. Symptoms associated with these arrhytmias are similar and include palpitations, dyspncea, lightheadeness, diaphoresis, chest psin and anxiety. Although radiofrequency catheter ablation prevents the occurrence of either type of tachycardia with a high success rate, not all patients show complete symptom regression. The aim of this study was to evaluate potential differences in anxiety and/or depressive symptomy prior to catheter ablation.Methods: patients with documented paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia were studied. Electrophysiologic study revealed AVNRT and AVRT patients. All patients completed the following battery of questionnaires and inventories: SCL-90 (Self Report Symptom Inventory), HAMR (Hamilton Anxiety Scale), HAMD (Hamilton Psychiatric Depression Scale), and ZUNG-SDS (Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale). These tests provide information on the presence of symptomy of anxiety and/or depression.Results: The scoring was referred to values appropriate for the normal population and revealed a certain degree of anxiety and depression in the whole study population (SCL-90 = 68137, HAMA = 1818, HAMD Sto, ZUNG-SDS = 4819). However, both groups did not differ in either parameter. Conclusions: No significant differences in anxiety and/or depressive symptom profile were found between AVNRT and AVRT patients before catheter ablation. This could be the result of frequent symptomy caused by supraventricular tachycardia irrelevant to the psychological profile.

Key words:
paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, affective disorders, anxiety disorders, comorbidity.