Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) symptoms in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In our study psychiatric symptoms was also examined in relation with clinical findings.
Method: In this study 50 patients, who came to the cardiology policlinic after spending a month after AMI were taken. Sociodemographic form, Hospital Anxiety-Depression (HAD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (Civilian Version) (PTSD-CL) were asked to be completed. AMI patients, who experience physical or mental events that can lead to PTSD symptoms, were excluded from the study.
Results: The average score of the patients’ anxiety scale was 8.7±4.3. Anxiety scale, when evaluated according to the cut-off point, 26% of patients were shown to be suffering from an anxiety disorder. In particular of depression scale, the average score was 7.2±3.6 and according to the cutoff point, depressive disorder could be detected in 36% of patients (n=18). The average PCL-C score was 22.1±5.1. 24% of patients had a value above cut-off scores on the PCL-C scale and the possibility of PTSD was considered as high in these patients.
Conclusion: In this study, AMI patients were identified with high rates of PTSD symptoms. The duration of hospitalization and angina symptoms after discharge were associated with symptoms of PTSD. In AMI patients PTSD symptoms as well as depressive symptoms must be considered.