The coping process with illness in patients with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases: a new survey: EKV.

Abstract

The EKV is a survey constructed by the authors to get detailed information about the patient's feelings, thoughts, attitudes, and plans when confronted with a severe organic (chronic) disease, especially with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases. Starting from the actual situation the focus lies on the patient's realization of consequences resulting from the illness-event for the organic, emotional-cognitive, familial, occupational and social aspects of life. Further topics are early and previous events or thoughts and the development of symptoms associated with the later outbreak of functional disorders or organic lesions which are treated now. Attention is also paid for the treatment situation in the past and at time and for the patient's projections to future life: thoughts about the progress of his disease, expected physical and psychical potency, occupational and leisure plans, partnership, familial and social life, illness-related changes in the style of life, expected satisfaction with life etc. The survey is to be used as a half-structured interview that takes 2 to 3 hours. It has already been tested, modified and now used on ca. 150 patients with different vascular diseases (pts. with myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease (angina pectoris), functional heart and circulatory disorders; completed stroke, prolonged ischaemic neurological defect, or transitoric investigation with the EKV are in preparation. Within a psychosomatic framework the survey gives a relevant overview and useful insight in the patient's reality, his adapting and coping reactions, the meaning of the chronic disease for his self-conception and way of life, as well as possibilities or necessities for psychological interventions and other treatment aspects.