Evaluation of anxiety and depression in patients prior to myocardial perfusion scintigraphy

OBJECTIVE: In myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) negative results indicate coronary artery diseases which might cause prominent anxiety and other psychological reactions. The aim of this study was to determine anxiety and depression levels of patients prior to MPS procedures. METHODS: The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale(HADS) and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory I and II were used to evaluate the anxiety and depression levels of the patients. Descriptive analyses and independent sample t-test were used for statistical assessment. RESULTS: The mean score of HADS-anxiety score prior to MPS was 8.1 ± 4.2, whereas the mean HADS depression score was 6.1 ± 3.7. The mean state anxiety score prior to MPS was 39.7 ± 10.6 and the mean trait anxiety score was 45.02 ± 9.1. HAD and state and trait anxiety scores were found to be significantly higher in female patients than male patients and non-smoker patients than smoker patients. Other risk factors such as having bypass operation, myocardial infarction, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and hypertension were not related to depression and anxiety scores. CONCLUSION: The results in this study suggest a role for MPS as a risk factor for higher state anxiety. The MPS procedures might lead to an increase in anxiety levels of patients which is possibly associated with anticipation anxiety felt during waiting period and expectation life-threatening.