Participants were identified from a coronary care unit database. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21 (DASS 21) was sent to potential participants via postal survey.
Setting
A metropolitan teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
Participants
The cohort of women was aged between 55 and 70 years. They had been admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) between 6 and 14 months prior to participating in this study.
Main outcome measures
Scores on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS 21).
Results
Of the 117 posted questionnaires, 39 women with a mean age of 63 (S.D. 4.97) responded to the survey, representing a response rate of 33.3 % . Most participants scored within normal levels of depression (66.7 % ), anxiety (60.5 % ), and stress (70.3 % ), however, mild to extremely severe levels of each construct (33.4 % , 39.6 % , and 29.7 % , respectively) were found.
Conclusions
The reporting of elevated levels of depression, anxiety and stress in a subset of women more than 6 months following an ACS event underscores the importance of ongoing screening for risk factors impacting on psychological well-being and the inclusion of this information in education and counseling strategies in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Based on these pilot data, consideration of a screening system in the immediate post discharge period for women at risk and an education or support service are recommended.
