Psychological Sequelae After Sudden Cardiac Death in the Patient and His Relatives

Overview

This study will evaluate and describe the occurrence of Acute traumatic stress and persistence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after resuscitated sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patient and relatives present during the event. The population will be composed of 40 patients: 20 with resuscitated SCD and 20 relatives. Two interviews will be performed by a psychologist within one week after resuscitated SCD and at month 3. Questionnaire Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire (SASRQ), Life Events Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (LEC-5) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) will be filled during these interviews.

In spite of therapeutic advances, sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a frequent (60000/year in France) and often fatal disease (5% survival). Because it is by definition unexpected, the psychological impact on resuscitated patients and on relatives may be important. However little studies have evaluated it. Patients who later develop PTSD, generally have acute stress disorder. In patients with resuscitated sudden cardiac death, acute psychological distress is frequent and PTSD was identified in 40% of patients. Concerning relatives, Haywood (2018) call them the "forgotten patients" to emphasize the absence of recognition of his psychological trauma. PTSD was more frequent in people who were witness of the SCD vs those who were not there. Hofland et al (2018) showed that people present during resuscitation maneuvers had more acute stress than others. This study will evaluate acute stress disorder with SASRQ scale in patients with resuscitated SCD and their relative just after the event. At 3 months, presence of PTSD will be evaluated with PCL-5 and LEC-5 in patients and their relatives.