Evaluating psychiatric symptoms, resiliance and quality of life in children, adolescents and their parents using implantable cardioverter defibrillator and pacemakers

Arrhythmias in the pediatric population are frequent. Patients who have been diagnosed with arrhythmias may frequently be depressed or have anxiety due to many factors such as exercise limitation and worries about the future. Usage of cardiac devices such as pacemaker (PM) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) have a negative effect on patients' quality of life and psychiatric health. In our study we aim to investigate this effect along with the affect of resilience. To evaluate quality of life, Pediatric Quality of Life Questionnaire (PedsQoL), to evaluate psychiatric wellness in 5 areas (anxiety, depression, somatization, anger and negative sense of self) Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and to evaluate resilience Connor- Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were used. A total of 71 patients and 62 healthy controls age between 2-18 were enrolled. In the patient group mean physical health summary score, mean psychosocial health summary score, mean total scale score, mean emotional functioning score and mean school functioning score were significantly lower than the healthy group. There was no relation between quality of life, psychiatric pathologies and resilience versus gender, type of device, implantation method and age, education, physical activity and patients age. Patients using an ICD had a significantly higher anxiety level than patients with PM. Also ICD bearing patients who received shock in the last year had a significantly higher level of somatization. In conclusion having a intracardiac rhythm device has a negative effect on patients psychiatric health and quality of life. Doctors should be aware of this and take swift actions towards eliminating them. Keywords: ICD, pacemaker, quality of life, depression, anxiety, somatization, anger, negative sense of self, resilience