More Than 20% Of People With Implantable Defibrillators Need Mental Health Support

After being implanted with a heart defibrillator, up to 28% of patients experience depression, 26% experience anxiety, and up to 21% experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because the shocks from the device, although lifesaving, are also upsetting. Between 58% and 70% of patients with an implanted heart defibrillator who report experiencing emotional distress receive no treatment. To improve psychological outcomes for these patients, physicians and nurses should routinely assess patients’ psychological status at each follow-up visit, and provide appropriate treatment for anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Additionally, patient education should be gender and age specific and should include what . . .