The identification, referral and management of patients with cardiac-related distress: a new model to support psychological recovery after a cardiac event
Authors: Jackson A C , Le Grande M R , Rogerson M C , Ski C F , Amerena J , Smith J A , Hoover V , Alvarenga M E , Higgins R O , Thompson D R , Murphy B M 
Published: October 2024

Background

Identification, referral and management of patients with psychological distress is an important component of cardiac rehabilitation (CR). We developed a protocol to identify patients in hospital, CR and primary care settings, and refer them to a specialist psychocardiology clinic. Using the newly developed Cardiac Distress Inventory (CDI), we demonstrated that counselling resulted in reduced rates of cardiac-related distress. This study demonstrates the importance of having a clear pathway from screening to referral to intervention to support cardiac patients in their recovery.

Purpose

The team identified a dearth of high-quality research on distress in cardiac patients, including a lack of data on the resolution of cardiac-related distress after psychotherapeutic intervention. This was due to the lack of appropriate measurement of cardiac distress, and the absence of clear pathways for identification, referral and management of cardiac distress.

Methods

The Cardiac Emotions Study is a multi-site, multi-component study of cardiac-related distress. The team first developed the 55-item Cardiac Distress Inventory (CDI), a comprehensive clinical assessment tool. A brief screening version, the 12-item Cardiac Distress Inventory Short Form (CDI-SF), was then developed. Patients referred to the specialist psychocardiology clinic over a 6-month period (N=113) were administered the CDI-SF, together with the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9), with all measures re-administered at discharge.

Results

More than half the clients presented to the Clinic within the first 3 months post-event (58%), while 84% presented within the first year. At presentation, over half the clients were anxious (GAD7&gt;10; 53%), depressed (PHQ9&gt;10; 57%), or distressed (CDI-SF&gt;13; 56.4%). Levels of particular aspects of cardiac distress are shown in the Figure.

On completion of counselling, distress had resolved for the majority of clients, with the distress rate of 18.6% at discharge equivalent to that seen in a normative sample of cardiac patients. Rates of anxiety and depression also significantly decreased after counselling.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that distressed cardiac patients could be appropriately identified in settings such as hospital, CR and primary care and referred for counselling, and that counselling resulted in significant reductions in rates of cardiac distress, anxiety and depression. Undergoing counselling through a specialist psychocardiology clinic assisted clients in obtaining normative rates of post-cardiac event distress. The analysis showed the necessity of having a clear clinical pathway from screening to psychological treatment, and the utility of having a validated measure of cardiac distress that is sensitive to change after intervention.