Posttraumatic Stress Disorder as a Consequence of Acute Cardiovascular Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide an update of the current evidence of cardiac disease–induced posttraumatic stress disorder (CDI-PTSD) with a focus on acute coronary events. RECENT FINDINGS: A cardiovascular disease, particularly a life-threatening cardiac event is often a highly stressful experience that can induce PTSD in patients and their caregivers, taking a chronic course if left untreated. There are several features distinguishing CDI-PTSD from “traditional” PTSD induced by external trauma, namely enduring somatic threat, inability to avoid trauma-related cues and hyperarousal with internal body sensations leading to constant fear of recurrent cardiac events. An increased risk of recurrent CVD events may be explained by pathophysiological changes, an unhealthy lifestyle and non-adherence to cardiac treatment. A trauma-focused approach might be useful to treat CDI-PTSD. SUMMARY: Treatment options for patients and caregivers as well as long-term effects of trauma-focused interventions on physical and mental health outcomes should be future research directions.