Spiritual Well-Being May Buffer Psychological Distress in Patients With Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Abstract

Psychological distress is common in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and has been associated with a worse prognosis. The authors examined whether spiritual wellbeing is associated with reduced psychological distress in patients with ICDs. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Wellbeing (FACIT-SWB) questionnare and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used to measure spiritual wellbeing and overall psychological distress. Multivariate linear regression was used to explore the relationship between these variables. The study sample included 46 ICD outpatients (32 M, 14 F; age range 43–83). An inverse association between HADS and FACIT-SWB scores was found, persisting after adjustment for demographics, anxiety/depression, medications, therapist support, and functional status (F = 0.001; β= −0.31, CI: −0.44, −0.19). In conclusion, spiritual wellbeing was independently associated with lower psychological distress in ICD outpatients. Spiritual wellbeing could act as a protective factor against psychological distress in these high-risk patients.

Perceptions and experiences of patients living with implantable cardioverter defibrillators: a systematic review and meta-synthesis

“…Generally, participants attempted to resume their normal routine [15, 17, 20, 22, 23, 26, 44] and made adjustments to better control their lives. Some did so by placing personal restrictions and engaging in careful planning to balance activities with what was appropriate for their health [26].…”

Perceived control and quality of life among recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillator

“…This is perhaps not a surprising finding given the effect of uncontrolled confounders in observational studies. In addition, we did not measure other important predictors that may affect HRQOL in ICD recipients, such as body image concerns, 48 personality type, 49 influence on the relationship with one's partner, 50 sexual activity, 51 spiritual well-being, 52 and driving restrictions. 53 Although we did not directly examine the mechanism through which perceived control is associated with HRQOL in ICD recipients, we hypothesized that perceived control affects HRQOL through its impact on psychological status, symptoms and functional status.…”

Spirituality, infertility‐related stress, and quality of life in Brazilian infertile couples: Analysis using the actor‐partner interdependence mediation model

“…Spirituality is involved in meaning‐based coping, which also includes positive reinterpretation, revised goals, and the infusion of ordinary events with positive meaning (Folkman, ). In patients with various chronic medical conditions, spirituality plays a protective role in adjustment to illness and promotes quality of life (Czekierda, Banik, Park, & Luszczynska, ; Mishra, Togneri, Tripathi, & Trikamji, ; Salmoirago‐Blotcher et al, ). Spirituality is commonly used by infertile women and couples to deal with the chronic stressor of infertility (Latifnejad Roudsari et al, ; Romeiro, Caldeira, Brady, Hall, & Timmins, ), and it has been associated, in women, with lower infertility‐related stress and depressive symptoms, higher life satisfaction (Domar et al, ; Etemadifar, Hosseiny, Ziraki, Omrani, & Alijanpoor, ), and improved emotional adjustment to assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment (Chan et al, ).…”

“…Spirituality has been associated with quality of life in several chronic conditions (Czekierda et al, ; Mishra et al, ; Salmoirago‐Blotcher et al, ). Meaning‐based coping processes, including spirituality, affect infertility‐related stress (Domar et al, ; Peterson et al, ; Volmer, Rösner, Toth, Strowitzki, & Wischmann, ), and infertility‐related stress has a negative impact on quality of life (Galhardo et al, ; Kim et al, ).…”