PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION TO MANAGE SEVERE DEPRESSION/ANXIETY IN SUSPECTED CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PATIENT AS A PRIMARY PREVENTION - A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Depression and anxiety are contributors to poor prognosis in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Depression and anxiety related disorders amount to 25% of total patient load. Out of 85% of patients diagnosed with depression were also reported to have anxiety whereas 90% of patients having anxiety also have depression in one form or the other. In this case report, the patient was a 30-years-old married male belonging to a middle-class Punjabi family living in Kashmir and working as a security guard. The patient reported that he experienced recurrent chest pain, palpitation and sinking of heart. Patient was diagnosed hypertensive (4 years back) and was on regular anti-hypertensive medications. Patient was managed through multi-disciplinary/collaborative efforts by involving cardiac consultants, Prevention and Rehabilitation team (preventive Cardiologist/ Clinical Psychologist) and consultant psychiatrist. However, level of effectiveness of these interventions NEED to be determined by conducting multi-centered sample sized studies.