Key result
Completing psychological instruments post-MI does not change physiological stress markers from baseline.
Why the study?
The administration of psychologically provocative research instruments could transiently activate the stress response and affect results in patients post-MI.
Does the administration of psychological instruments induce a physiological stress response in stable patients 24 to 48 hours post-myocardial infarction?
Observational (n=24)
Does the administration of psychological instruments induce a physiological stress response in stable patients 24 to 48 hours post-myocardial infarction?
p-value: p=NS
Administering psychological questionnaires to stable patients 24-48 hours post-MI does not elicit a significant physiological stress response, suggesting these instruments can be safely used in this early recovery period.
May support safe psychological instrument use 24-48h post-MI; leaves open confirmation in larger prospective studies.
The administration of psychologically provocative research instruments could serve as a transient source of stress and spuriously affect results. To determine whether the administration of selected psychosocial instruments activates the stress response, we examined the physiological stress response of stable patients post-myocardial infarction (MI) to completing the Beck Depression Inventory, the Illness Perception Questionnaire, and the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory 24 to 48 hours post-acute event. Salivary cortisol, heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured prior to instrument administration and 30 minutes after as indicators of the stress response. Twenty-four subjects (16 men) completed the study. Mean baseline measures of salivary cortisol (0.558 mcg/dL), heart rate (86 bpm), and MAP (86 mm Hg) were within normal ranges. A repeated-measures analysis of variance demonstrated no significant difference in salivary cortisol, F(1, 23) = 2.59, NS; HRV, F(1, 18) = 0.27, NS; heart rate, F(1, 23) = 4.29, NS; or MAP, F(1, 22) = 0.859, NS, from preinterview to postinterview. These results suggest that completing these selected psychological instruments in thefirst 24 to 48 hoursfollowing MI was not a stressful event, at least for those who were stable post-percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.
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Cherrington et al. (2002) conducted an observational in Acute Myocardial Infarction (n=24). Administration of psychological instruments (Beck Depression Inventory, Illness Perception Questionnaire, Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory) vs. Preinterview baseline was evaluated on Physiological stress response (salivary cortisol, heart rate variability, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure) (p=NS). Completing psychological instruments 24 to 48 hours post-MI did not significantly change salivary cortisol, heart rate variability, heart rate, or mean arterial pressure from baseline.
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