Prevalence of Psychiatric Problems Among Patients and Healthcare Providers in a Cardiology Department: A Cross-Sectional Study

Official title

Prevalence of Psychiatric Problems Among Patients and Healthcare Providers in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine

Overview

The goal of this observational cross-sectional study is to determine the prevalence of psychiatric problems (depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout) among patients with cardiovascular diseases and healthcare providers working in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Assiut University Heart Hospital. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What is the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among cardiovascular patients? * What is the prevalence of burnout, depression, and anxiety among healthcare providers in the same department? The study will also explore potential sociodemographic, occupational, and clinical factors associated with these psychological outcomes.

Detailed description

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Psychological comorbidities-such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and cognitive impairment-are highly prevalent among patients with CVD and are known to adversely affect treatment adherence, quality of life, and overall outcomes.

Similarly, healthcare professionals working in cardiovascular medicine are exposed to continuous psychological stress due to long working hours, critical decision-making, and frequent exposure to life-threatening situations. These stressors contribute to burnout, depression, anxiety, and reduced job satisfaction, all of which may negatively influence patient safety and workforce stability.

Despite the recognized importance of mental health in cardiology, limited data exist from low- and middle-income countries-particularly from Egypt-regarding the concurrent assessment of mental health among both patients and healthcare providers within the same clinical setting.

Therefore, this study aims to estimate the prevalence and correlates of psychiatric symptoms among cardiovascular patients and healthcare providers in a tertiary care center. The results are expected to guide the development of psychosocial support programs and promote mental health awareness in hospital cardiology departments.

Study Design:

Type: Cross-sectional, descriptive, hospital-based study

Setting: Assiut University Heart Hospital

Sample: \~380 cardiovascular patients (systematic random sampling) and all available healthcare providers (census approach)

Tools: Standardized and validated questionnaires including SCL-90R, PSS, PSQI, MBI, and COPE Inventory

Data Analysis: Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses using SPSS v26

Interventions

• Other Psychological Assessment using Validated Questionnaires
  Participants will complete validated mental health questionnaires, including SCL-90R, COPE Inventory, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Healthcare providers will additionally complete the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). No experimental treatment or behavioral intervention will be applied.

Primary outcome measures

• Measuring the prevalence of depressive symptoms among cardiovascular patients assessed by SCL-90R [Time frame: Within 12 months]
• Measuring the prevalence of anxiety symptoms among cardiovascular patients assessed by SCL-90R [Time frame: Within 12 months]
• Prevalence of burnout among healthcare providers assessed by Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) [Time frame: Within 12 months]

Secondary outcome measures (2)

• Association between sociodemographic and clinical factors and psychiatric symptoms [Time frame: within 12 months]
• Mean Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) score among patients and providers [Time frame: within 12 months]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

Patients

Age ≥ 18 years. Diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease (e.g., ischemic heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease).

Able to understand and complete self-administered questionnaires or participate in structured interviews.

Provided informed written consent.

Healthcare Providers

Physicians, residents, nurses, or allied staff working in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine for ≥6 months.

Provided informed written consent.

Exclusion criteria

Severe cognitive impairment or communication difficulties that prevent questionnaire completion.

Refusal to participate.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Observational model

Other

Study locations

Egypt · 1 center

• Assiut university hospital — Asyut

Publications

• Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Sep;16(9):606-13. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x. PMID 11556941
• Shanafelt TD, Boone S, Tan L, Dyrbye LN, Sotile W, Satele D, West CP, Sloan J, Oreskovich MR. Burnout and satisfaction with work-life balance among US physicians relative to the general US population. Arch Intern Med. 2012 Oct 8;172(18):1377-85. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.3199. PMID 22911330
• Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Lowe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006 May 22;166(10):1092-7. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092. PMID 16717171
• Lichtman JH, Froelicher ES, Blumenthal JA, Carney RM, Doering LV, Frasure-Smith N, Freedland KE, Jaffe AS, Leifheit-Limson EC, Sheps DS, Vaccarino V, Wulsin L; American Heart Association Statistics Committee of the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention and the Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing. Depression as a risk factor for poor prognosis among patients with acute coronary syndrome: PMID 24566200

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07274865 · psychiatry in cardiology

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗