News Release

Psychological effects of heart surgery examined

Perception of illness and conviction for recovery important for patients

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Hannover, Germany – January 29, 2007 – Cases of congenital heart disease (CHD), in both adolescents and adults, have been on the rise for many years. An article in a recent issue of Congenital Heart Disease proposes that these numbers will continue to rise and that current psychological therapy for recovering patients needs improvement.

With few exceptions, cardiac surgery of congenital heart defects is not curative. Complications such as arrhythmias and heart failure are common, often requiring further medical treatment and re-operations. There are a few studies that have addressed the psychological effect this has on individuals.

"The current results suggest that psychological measures of patients with operated congenital heart defects are not directly dependent on their physical fitness or on the severity of residual symptoms," says Dr. Kambiz Norozi, M.D., lead author of the article. "Patients' subjective appraisals of the severity of the disease and to what degree the operated heart may be depended on are potentially important determinants of psychological state." Additionally, many of the patient's psychological states regarding their own physical fitness after the operations vary depending upon their own perception of their recovery.

The findings impact healthcare practices, health and government policy as well as grants for further research in the field. The results raise the question as to which predictors influence the psychological status of patients with operated congenital heart defects.

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This study is published in Congenital Heart Disease. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact medicalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net.

Dr. Kambiz Norozi, M.D., works in the Department of Paediatric Cardiology and Intensive Care Medicine at Medical School Hannover in Hannover, Germany. He can be reached for questions at Norozi.kambiz@mh-hannover.de .

Congenital Heart Disease is a new clinical journal publishing articles on heart disease as it relates to the following areas:

Clinical pediatric and adult cardiology

  • Cardiac imaging

  • Preventive cardiology

  • Diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization

  • Electrophysiology

  • Surgery

  • Long-term follow-up, particularly as it relates to older children and adult congenital heart disease

  • Exercise and exercise physiology in the congenital patient

  • Post-op and critical care

  • Common disorders such as syncope, chest pain, murmurs, as well as acquired disorders such as Kawasaki syndrome

For more information, please visit www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/chd.

Blackwell Publishing is the world's leading society publisher, partnering with 665 medical, academic, and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 800 journals and has over 6,000 books in print. The company employs over 1,000 staff members in offices in the US , UK , Australia, China , Singapore, Denmark, Germany, and Japan. Blackwell's mission as an expert publisher is to create long-term partnerships with our clients that enhance learning, disseminate research, and improve the quality of professional practice. For more information on Blackwell Publishing, please visit www.blackwellpublishing.com or www.blackwell-synergy.com.


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