Abstract
Background: Amyloidosis is a rare disease group. AL amyloidosis represents the
most common type of systemic amyloidosis and cardiac involvement determines
prognosis. Although some studies have revealed that amyloidosis patients present
high levels of depression, few data are available about depression-contributing factors.
No investigations have been conducted about the coping strategies that AL
amyloidosis patients use to face the disease and there is little research on patients
with cardiac symptoms that are strongly related to the prognosis. Objectives: to
examine coping strategies (avoidance, social support seeking and problem-solving)
as potential mediator in the relationship between cardiac symptom severity (independent
variable) and depressive symptoms (dependent variable) in AL cardiologic
patients. Method: Thirty-four AL patients with cardiac-related symptoms were
administered the Coping Strategy Indicator and the Centre for Epidemiological
Study–Depression Scale. Clinical variables such as months since cardiac symptom
onset and cardiac symptom severity were collected. Results: According to questionnaire
normative values, all patients presented clinical depression. Moreover, out of
the coping strategies, avoidance and social support seeking mediated the link
between cardiac symptom severity and depressive symptoms. No mediational effect
was found for problem-solving. Discussion: As cardiac symptoms have low severity,
AL patients can avoid the disease. However, as cardiac symptoms proceed and interfere
with daily activities, they can no longer ignore their signs thus perceiving the
severity of their medical condition. This status makes individuals prone to seek less
social support and thus to prefer social isolation. Results suggest the need for early
psychological support on coping strategies for AL cardiologic patients.
Background: Amyloidosis is a rare disease group. AL amyloidosis represents the
most common type of systemic amyloidosis and cardiac involvement determines
prognosis. Although some studies have revealed that amyloidosis patients present
high levels of depression, few data are available about depression-contributing factors.
No investigations have been conducted about the coping strategies that AL
amyloidosis patients use to face the disease and there is little research on patients
with cardiac symptoms that are strongly related to the prognosis. Objectives: to
examine coping strategies (avoidance, social support seeking and problem-solving)
as potential mediator in the relationship between cardiac symptom severity (independent
variable) and depressive symptoms (dependent variable) in AL cardiologic
patients. Method: Thirty-four AL patients with cardiac-related symptoms were
administered the Coping Strategy Indicator and the Centre for Epidemiological
Study–Depression Scale. Clinical variables such as months since cardiac symptom
onset and cardiac symptom severity were collected. Results: According to questionnaire
normative values, all patients presented clinical depression. Moreover, out of
the coping strategies, avoidance and social support seeking mediated the link
between cardiac symptom severity and depressive symptoms. No mediational effect
was found for problem-solving. Discussion: As cardiac symptoms have low severity,
AL patients can avoid the disease. However, as cardiac symptoms proceed and interfere
with daily activities, they can no longer ignore their signs thus perceiving the
severity of their medical condition. This status makes individuals prone to seek less
social support and thus to prefer social isolation. Results suggest the need for early
psychological support on coping strategies for AL cardiologic patients.