Copyright © 1999 by the European Society of Cardiology.
Relationship between psychological profile and cardiological variables in chronic heart failure. The role of patient subjectivity
a Psychology Service, ‘S. Maugeri’ Foundation, IRCCS, Rehabilitation Institute of Montescano, Pavia, Italy
b Heart Failure Unit, Cardiology Department, ‘S. Maugeri’ Foundation, IRCCS, Rehabilitation Institute of Montescano, Pavia, Italy
c Cardiology Department, S. Matteo Hospital, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
revised April 27, 1999; accepted April 28, 1999
Abstract
Aim To analyse the relationships between the psychological profile, the satisfaction profile and cardiological variables in patients with chronic heart failure.
Material and Methods One hundred and fifty-two male patients with chronic heart failure in a stable clinical condition underwent cardiological evaluation and psychological assessment by means of two instruments: the Cognitive Behavioural Assessment 2.0 Battery and the Satisfaction Profile.
Results Patients scored higher than healthy subjects in terms of psychophysiological disorders and depression. Patients in NYHA class III reported higher anxiety and depression scores and had more frequent problems in daily life than patients in NYHA classes I and II. Class III patients also reported lower satisfaction levels in many aspects of psychological and physical functioning. Pulmonary resistances >2·5 Wood units, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure >0·18mmHg and a diagnosis of ischaemic cardiomyopathy were associated with low satisfaction levels in the Satisfaction Profile ‘physical functioning’ factor. To be listed for heart transplantation and a history of more than three hospitalizations were related to low satisfaction levels in many items of the Satisfaction Profile. Finally, stepwise multiple regression showed that NYHA class, depression score and pulmonary capillary resistance accounted for 32% of the variance in the Satisfaction Profile physical functioning factor score.
Conclusion On the basis of chronic heart failure diagnosis only, a generic pattern of psychological distress can be predicted, common to many severe chronic diseases. Shifting from objective mental health measures towards the domain of subjective satisfaction, the only link which emerges is between objective cardiological data and satisfaction with physical functioning. Satisfaction in terms of other life aspects does not seem to be related to cardiological variables.These results support the importance of subjectivity in health related quality of life, as well as objective measures.
Key Words: Chronic heart failure, quality of life, satisfaction, psychological assessment
f1 Correspondence: Giuseppina Majani, Servizio di Psicologia, Fondazione ‘S. Maugeri’ Centro Medico di Montescano, 27040 Montescano (PV), Italy.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  E. R. Schwarz, S. Rastogi, V. Kapur, N. Sulemanjee, and J. J. Rodriguez Erectile Dysfunction in Heart Failure Patients J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 19, 2006; 48(6): 1111 - 1119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J.E. Haworth, E. Moniz-Cook, A.L. Clark, M. Wang, R. Waddington, and J.G.F. Cleland Prevalence and predictors of anxiety and depression in a sample of chronic heart failure patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction Eur J Heart Fail, August 1, 2005; 7(5): 803 - 808. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M.J. Lenzen, W.J.M. Scholte op Reimer, and M. Komajda Differences between patients with a preserved and a depressed left ventricular function: a report from the EuroHeart Failure Survey: reply Eur. Heart J., March 1, 2005; 26(5): 526 - 526. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Ward The quality of life in heart failure Just talking about it will not make it better Eur J Heart Fail, August 1, 2004; 6(5): 535 - 537. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. S. Gottlieb, M. Khatta, E. Friedmann, L. Einbinder, S. Katzen, B. Baker, J. Marshall, S. Minshall, S. Robinson, M. L. Fisher, et al. The influence of age, gender, and race on the prevalence of depression in heart failure patients J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., May 5, 2004; 43(9): 1542 - 1549. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. J. Webster, E. D. Michelakis, T. Davis, and S. L. Archer Use of Sildenafil for Safe Improvement of Erectile Function and Quality of Life in Men With New York Heart Association Classes II and III Congestive Heart Failure: A Prospective, Placebo-Controlled, Double-blind Crossover Trial Arch Intern Med, March 8, 2004; 164(5): 514 - 520. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Radzewitz, E. Miche, G. Herrmann, M. Nowak, U. Montanus, U. Adam, Y. Stockmann, and M. Barth Exercise and muscle strength training and their effect on quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure Eur J Heart Fail, October 1, 2002; 4(5): 627 - 634. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Zipfel, A. Schneider, B. Wild, B. Lowe, J. Junger, M. Haass, F.-U. Sack, G. Bergmann, and W. Herzog Effect of Depressive Symptoms on Survival After Heart Transplantation Psychosom Med, September 1, 2002; 64(5): 740 - 747. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Faris, H. Purcell, M.Y. Henein, and A.J.S. Coats Clinical depression is common and significantly associated with reduced survival in patients with non-ischaemic heart failure Eur J Heart Fail, August 1, 2002; 4(4): 541 - 551. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. M. A. MacMahon and G. Y. H. Lip Psychological Factors in Heart Failure: A Review of the Literature Arch Intern Med, March 11, 2002; 162(5): 509 - 516. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J Juenger, D Schellberg, S Kraemer, A Haunstetter, C Zugck, W Herzog, and M Haass Health related quality of life in patients with congestive heart failure: comparison with other chronic diseases and relation to functional variables Heart, March 1, 2002; 87(3): 235 - 241. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.G.F. Cleland and M. Wang Depression and heart failure -- not yet a target for therapy? Eur. Heart J., November 1, 1999; 20(21): 1529 - 1531. [PDF]
|
|