Research
The productive status of our ICD research is the outcome of over 15 years of work in this area. Our research over time has established the base rates of psychological distress, the predictors of this distress, the special populations that warrant additional attention, and have produced over 90 papers in the medicine journals addressing these issues. For example, we have established that approximately 13-38% of ICD patients experience anxiety difficulties and approximately 24-48% of patients experience significant depressive symptoms. Risk groups are young ICD patients (<50 years old), women, and shocked patients. Our studies help to establish the significance and impact of our work to cardiologist peer reviewers.
The lab currently collaborates on a variety of projects nationally and internationally including projects at Stanford (CI: Wang, Dubin), Harvard (CI: Shea), Duke (CI: Kanter), Emory (CI: Fishbach), Baylor (CI: Cannon), Florida (CI: Conti, Bryant, Klodell), University of Rochester (CI: Moss), Mid American Heart Institute (CI: Ramza), Canada (CI: Exner), Australia (CI: Whalley), and the Netherlands (CI: Pedersen).
Dr. Sears with ICD researchers Dr. Carl Johan Hoijer (at left) and Dr. Suzanne Pedersen (at right).
Dr. Sears was invited to provide a keynote lecture to the First Nordic Symposium on Psychological Aspects of ICD Treatment in Lund, Sweden on December 4, 2009. Dr. Sears addressed the state of the art approaches and research on the psychological and behavioral aspects of living with cardiac arrhythmias and implantable cardioverter defibrillators. The conference was chaired by Fredrik Gadler, Ph D., Karolinska University Hospital and Carl Johan Höijer, MD, Ph D., Lund University Hospital, Sweden (pictured). Dr. Suzanne Pedersen, Ph D, a collaborating researcher from Tilburg University, the Netherlands, was also in attendance.
Research Goals of the East Carolina Cardiac Psychology Lab:
• To evaluate the psychosocial and quality of life endpoints of cutting
edge technologies in cardiac disease management.
• To establish the utility and effectiveness of a biopsychosocial model in
the routine care of medical patients spanning the continuum from
primary care to major medical intervention.
• To examine the long-term impact of psychological and behavioral
factors on health and cost outcomes.
Current Ongoing Grant-funded Research Projects:
• Sleep in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs)
Purpose: To examine the quality of sleep of ICD patients.
National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Peri-implant Psychoeducational Intervention in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Patients
Purpose: To examine the effects of a psychosocial education intervention on various psychological endpoints in newly implanted ICD patients.
Medtronic, Inc.
• Examination of the Pros and Cons of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators
Purpose: To test a new measurement tool for patients considering implantation of an ICD.
Medtronic, Inc.
• Does ICD Therapy with Fluid Management Improve Patient Acceptance, Perceived Control, and Quality of Life?
Purpose: To determine whether ICD therapy with fluid management improves various psychological endpoints.
Medtronic, Inc.
• Predictors of Quality of Life in Pediatric Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Patients
Purpose: To investigate psychosocial adjustment in children and young adults with ICDs.
Medtronic, Inc.
Dissertation Studies:
For more information about ongoing dissertation studies being conducted by members in the Cardiac Psychology lab...Click here
Additional Domains of Previous and Current Research:
- Quality of Life
- Depression and anxiety
- Device-specific shock anxiety
- Patient acceptance
- Psychosocial interventions -patient education (and role of computers)
- Quality of Death
- Female body image
- Marital adjustment/spousal adjustment
- Device recalls
- Young ICD recipients
