Table 3
Pocket guide to key interview questions for the psychosocial care of ICD patients
| Key concept | Sample interview question | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Affective functioning depression | Depressed mood question: during the past month, have you often been bothered by feeling down, hopeless, or depressed? | If either of these questions screen positive, the presence of depression should be pursued via additional interview or referral to |
| Anhedonia question: during the past month, have you felt less interested in or gotten less pleasure from doing the things you typically enjoy? | a mental health professional. If both of these questions are negative, the patient is unlikely to have major depression | |
| Anxiety | Generalised anxiety: are you generally a nervous person? | A positive response to general anxiety indicates a condition that is unlikely to be responsive to clinic based intervention by a cardiologist and should be referred. Specific |
| Specific anxiety: do you have regular and continuous fears of ICD shocks? | anxiety, however, is likely to be improved by a clinic based discussion from a cardiologist. However, referral may still be necessary if education and reassurance related to the specific cardiac concerns are not sufficient | |
| Behavioural functioning avoidance behaviour | Avoidant behaviour: do you avoid doing anything simply because of your fear of shocks? | Confirmed avoidance behaviour increases the probability of a significant anxiety problem and warrants referral for additional work up by a mental health professional |
| Cognitive functioning attention and memory | Attention and memory change and perceived impact: have you noticed any significant changes in your attention or memory since ICD implantation? Have these changes presented any problems in your daily functioning? | Cognitive changes are a recognised part of significant cardiac illness Neuropsychological evaluation is indicated if the changes have presented any problems or concerns for the patient or family members |
