Review article

https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2020.3

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder after Acute Coronary Syndrome or Cardiac Surgery; Underestimated Reality

Nenad Lakušić ; Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice, Krapinske Toplice, Croatia; Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine Osijek, J. J. Strossmayer University of O
Gordana Kamenečki ; Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice, Krapinske Toplice, Croatia
Ivana Sopek Merkaš ; Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice, Krapinske Toplice, Croatia
Duško Cerovec ; Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice, Krapinske Toplice, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine Osijek, J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Krunoslav Fučkar ; Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice, Krapinske Toplice, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine Osijek, J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Ivo Darko Gabrić ; University Hospital Centre “Sestre milosrdnice”, Zagreb, Croatia
Matias Trbušić ; University Hospital Centre “Sestre milosrdnice”, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Jasna Čerkez Habek ; University Hospital “Sveti Duh”, Zagreb, Croatia; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

In addition to the somatic consequences of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) that include different
levels of intolerance to exertion, incapacity for work, symptoms of chronic heart failure, angina
pectoris, the manifestation of various arrhythmias, etc., the development of a whole range of psychosomatic
and mental disorders is also possible already in the early subacute and chronic phases of the
disease, and if these mental disorders are not actively treated in a timely fashion they can contributed
to unwanted outcomes and increased mortality in this group of patients. ACS is associated with
chronic stress, anxiety, and depression and can be a trigger for later development of posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) with an average prevalence rate of 15% in patients with ACS. Several studies
have shown that patients with symptoms of PTSD associated with ACS, especially if untreated, have
increased mortality and higher rates of myocardial reinfarction. Since PTSD associated with ACS or
cardiac surgery can be neglected or underestimated, the aim of this review was to raise awareness
about this issue that is present in everyday clinical practice.

Keywords

posttraumatic stress disorder; acute coronary syndrome; cardiac surgery.

Hrčak ID:

232208

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/232208

Publication date:

15.1.2020.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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