PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF ANXIETY IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY STUDIES

OBJECTIVE: To measure state anxiety and related physiological correlat es at 3 selected times when patient education regarding electrophysiol ogy (EP) studies is likely to occur: 24 hours before the EP study (pre -procedure teaching), 1 hour before the EP study (reinforcement of pre -procedure teaching), and 3 hours after the EP study (explanation of r esults; reinforcement of post-procedure instructions). DESIGN: Descrip tive-exploratory. SETTING: Military medical treatment facility in mid Atlantic region. SUBJECTS: Thirty-two adults who underwent initial EP testing. OUTCOME MEASURES: The Spielberger State Anxiety score, fronta lis muscle tension, heart rate, electrodermal activity, electrothermal feedback, and mean arterial pressure. METHODS: Outcome measures were obtained 1 day before (time 1), 1 hour before (time 2), and 3 hours af ter (time 3) the EP study. RESULTS: Both state anxiety scores and phys iological variables indicated minimal psychophysiological reactivity. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing initial EP studies experience moderate state anxiety and manifest a paradoxical pattern of autonomic respons es over time. Moderate levels of state anxiety at each of the 3 assess ment points would seem to indicate that patient education is appropria te at these times.