The Effect of Psychologic Preparation to Reduce Anxiety Associated with Cardiac Catheterization

The increasing rate of cardiovascular disorders candidate for angiography along with consideration that angiography, as an invasive method, may predispose to psychological reactions and increasing cardiac complications among these subjects. This study was performed to determine the effect of psychological preparation on reducing anxiety in patients who are candidates for this procedure. Subjects and In this randomized clinical trial, from patients referred for angiography to Golestan Ahvaz Hospital, 40 were enrolled and randomly assigned into two groups; intervention group who received psychological preparation and control group. Demographic questionnaire and Hamilton Anxiety Scale one day before cardiac catheterization was completed for both groups. Then psychological preparation for cardiac catheterization was performed for intervention group. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale at 2 hours before and 4 hours after cardiac catheterization was completed once again for both. Data were analyzed by Chi-squared and paired-t test method. The results showed that the initial anxiety level in both groups was similar (p>0.05). Two hours after catheterization, there was a significant decrease of anxiety in intervention group (P<0.05). However, no difference, at four hours after heart catheterization (P>0.05) was found. Paired t-test analysis demonstrated that, from demographic and clinical variables, only age and history of cardiac disease were significantly associated with the effect of intervention (P<0.05). Results of this study revealed that psychological preparation, is an effective method and can reduce the anxiety of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.