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Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Observational Ages 19 to 90

Anxiety, stress and pain after a heart attack

Official title: 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

Run by Medical University of Graz · NCT04130269 · Data updated 2026-11-12

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 typeObservational
Ages19 Years to 90 Years
SexAll
Enrollment100 (estimated)
SponsorMedical University of Graz
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Graz, Styria)
StatusRecruiting
StartedApril 7, 2020
Main results expectedDecember 7, 2027
Study endsDecember 7, 2027
Registry record updatedSeptember 29, 2025
Trial IDNCT04130269 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a 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.

Probably 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.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

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.

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 gone: 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.

Who can join: the full rules

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 it's running

  • Medical University of Graz
    Graz, Styria, Austria     Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.