Anxiety, stress and pain after a heart attack
The Impact of Anxiety, Stress and Pain in the Early Phase of Myocardial Infarction on the Development of Anxiety Symptoms and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Long Term Outcome
Medical University of Graz · NCT04130269
This project tests how common anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress symptoms are in people who have just had a heart attack.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 19 Years to 90 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Medical University of Graz (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Graz, Styria) |
| Trial ID | NCT04130269 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study follows people hospitalized for an acute myocardial infarction at three time points: Day 1–3 (acute), Day 5–14 (pre-discharge), and at 6 months. At each visit participants complete questionnaires on stress, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and well-being, undergo cognitive testing, and provide blood samples for cortisol and metanephrine measurements. Clinical data including ECG, echocardiography, troponin and routine labs are collected to link psychological responses with cardiac biomarkers. The aim is to measure how many patients develop persistent anxiety, stress, or PTSD after a heart attack and to define biopsychosocial relationships that could inform prevention.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 19–90 who are hospitalized for an acute myocardial infarction, have no prior psychiatric disease, are not receiving steroid therapy, and can give informed consent are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with preexisting psychiatric disorders, severe immune‑affecting illnesses, those on steroid therapy, or those unable to complete follow-up visits (for example due to dementia or delirium) may not receive benefit from this observational protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help identify patients at risk for persistent stress or PTSD after a heart attack and guide earlier psychological or medical prevention.
How similar studies have performed: Previous observational research has reported that a notable minority of heart attack survivors develop PTSD and elevated stress biomarkers, so this approach is supported by earlier work.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * willingness to participate in the study * men and women 19-90 * after myocardial infarctions * no psychiatric disease before myocardial infarction * no other severe disease influencing the immune system Exclusion Criteria: * non fulfilment of inclusion criteria * non-compliant patients (dementia, delirium) * steroid-therapy
Where this trial is running
Graz, Styria
- Medical University of Graz — Graz, Styria, Austria (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Andreas Baranyi, MD
- Email: an.baranyi@medunigraz.at
- Phone: 004331638513612
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Myocardial Infarction