Prevalence of Anxiety Disorders in Patient Presenting to Cardiology Outpatient Department

Abstract

Psychiatric comorbidities in a cardiovascular condition has been in an increasing ratio. Psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, represent an additional risk for Coronary Artery Disease. As a consequence, the co-existence of physical and psychiatric morbidity negatively affects the course and outcome of both the conditions resulting in increased overall burden of disease. One study conducted in 2001 in Bikaner, India found high prevalence (75%) of Diagnosable psychiatric morbidity among patients attending Cardiac OPD. Most commonly (38.67%) diagnosed disorder was Depressive disorder followed by panic disorder as the diagnosis (38.10%). Psychiatric morbidity among patients attending cardiac outpatient department has been revealed as a significant problem in many studies. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of psychiatric morbidity among patients attending the cardiology outpatient department in a tertiary care centre. This is a cross-sectional study Convenient sampling technique was used. The aim of this study is to find out the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in patients attending the cardiology OPD. This will help in planning proper diagnosis and treatment in time of these non-cardiac psychiatric disorders and may reduce mortality, improve quality of life and speed the recovery of patients with cardiac diseases.