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Adding Psychological Intervention to High-Tech Care for Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Psychocardiology

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Abstract

Psychosocial challenges for ICD patients have been well established in research and clinical practice. Anxiety secondary to disease management and/or fear of ICD shock is among the most common concerns that lead to development and maintenance of psychological distress in ICD patients. Researchers and clinicians have developed a broad range of cognitive-behavioral, pharmacological, and nontraditional approaches to address the unique needs of ICD patients. Findings from two recent meta-analyses suggest that cognitive-behavioral interventions of high intensity were effective in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms (effect sizes ranging from small to moderate large). However, the high degree of heterogeneity in treatment duration and content across studies has made it difficult to formulate broad conclusions on the feasibility and effectiveness of existing interventions. The purpose of this chapter is to highlight the evidence and breadth of empirically supported psychological treatments for ICD patients and their families. A list of resources for ICD patients and mental health professionals is also provided at the end of the chapter.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, East Carolina University, 104 Rawl Bldg, Greenville, NC, 27858, USA

    Lindsey Rosman, Amanda Whited, Jessica H. Ford & Samuel F. Sears

  2. Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, East Carolina Heart Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

    Amanda Whited, Raj Nekkanti, John Cahill & Samuel F. Sears

Authors
  1. Lindsey Rosman
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  2. Amanda Whited
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  3. Jessica H. Ford
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  4. Raj Nekkanti
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  5. John Cahill
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  6. Samuel F. Sears
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Samuel F. Sears .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Monash University, Victoria, Australia

    Marlies Alvarenga

  2. Australia National University, Canberra, Aust Capital Terr, Australia

    Don Byrne

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© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

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Rosman, L., Whited, A., Ford, J.H., Nekkanti, R., Cahill, J., Sears, S.F. (2015). Adding Psychological Intervention to High-Tech Care for Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators. In: Alvarenga, M., Byrne, D. (eds) Handbook of Psychocardiology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4560-53-5_50-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4560-53-5_50-1

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  • Online ISBN: 978-981-4560-53-5

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