MENTAL DISORDER OR CORONARY-DISEASE - PSY CHOMETRIC FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSES ACCORDING TO ICD-10 IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

Cardiac complaints can indicate the presence of coronary heart dieseas e or psychological disorders. In this prospective study we examined fo rty patients undergoing coronary angiography. As expected psychologica l disorders diagnosed according to ICD-10, especially anxiety disorder s, were more frequent in patients with normal coronary arteries (60% v s. 25%; p=0.025). Anxiety symptoms predicted coronary status in uni-an d multivariate models. Especially the HADS-D proved useful for this pu rpose. We propose a graded psychosomatic approach consisting of an anx iety screening test and a standardised interview. This is practicable under medical routine conditions, can facilitate the initiation of pro per treatment, and reduce individual distress as well as economical co sts by preventing chronification.