TY - JOUR
TI - Panic Attack during Elective Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
AU - Mitsonis, Charalampos
AU - Dimopoulos, Nikolaos
AU - Zavrou, Marianna and
AU - Psarra, Vassiliki
AU - Giofkos, Christos
AU - Fiorakis, Christos and
AU - Dimitriadis, Athanasios
AU - Valavanis, Dimitrios
AU - Vousoura, Eleni and
AU - Zervas, Iannis
AU - Papavassiliou, Efstathios
JO - Gastroenterology Research and Practice
PY - 2011
VL - 2011
TODO - null
SP - null
PB - HINDAWI LTD
SN - 1687-6121, 1687-630X
TODO - 10.1155/2011/162574
TODO - null
TODO - Background. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy (CS) can
evoke anxiety, embarrassment, and discomfort. These concerns can
culminate in panic attacks, which may traumatize patients and
significantly decrease their compliance to the procedure. The objective
of this study was to evaluate the relationship between preendoscopic
anxiety and the possibility of a panic attack during an elective
gastrointestinal endoscopy (EGE). Methods. The study population
comprised of 79 Greek outpatients. The examination was carried out
without the use of conscious sedation. Patients’ anxiety levels were
assessed before the procedure using the Greek version of the Spielberger
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y). Results. Seventy-nine patients
were enrolled: 45 EGD and 34 CS. Females had higher state and trait
anxiety levels than males (48.14 +/- 7.94 versus 44.17 +/- 7.43, P <
0.05; and 43.68 +/- 6.95 versus 39.86 +/- 7.46, P < 0.05). Patients who
experienced panic attack had significantly higher levels of both trait
and state anxiety, compared to those who were panic-free. There was no
significant relationship between panic attacks and sex or type of
procedure. Conclusions. Patients who experience panic attacks during
endoscopic procedures appear to have significantly higher anxiety levels
before the procedure. Administering the STAI questionnaire prior to the
endoscopy seems to be a useful screening method for vulnerable patients.
ER -