Anxiety and Depression

The purpose of this chapter is to focus the attention of cardiac electrophysiologists on the importance of psychiatric disorders in patients with cardiac disease and identify major gaps in our knowledge on the diagnosis and treatment of affective disorders in patients with a history of life-threatening arrhythmias. First, the chapter provides a background on the significance of mental disorders and their possible relations to cardiovascular disease. Second, it reviews the world literature on mood, anxiety, and cognitive disorders in ICD recipients. Third, it addresses the treatment of depression and anxiety, psychiatric disorders most frequently affecting ICD patients.