Stress-induced atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Objective. To study clinical types of psychosomatic reactions with stress-induced atrial fibrillation (AF) and their contribution to personality disorders and characteristics of stressors. Material and methods. The sample consisted of 34 patients with a stressinduced AF. A clinical/psychopathological method and psychometric scales were used. Results and conclusion. Two groups of stress-induced psychosomatic reactions were identified. The first group somatic reactions led to a somatic catastrophe and were associated with paranoia and schizotypal personality disorders, constitutional alexithymia, as well as resistance to somatic problems. Second group was characterized by mental reactions leading to AF revealed predominantly in individuals with a histrionic and anxious personality disorders, reactive lability and the high level of neuroticism under the influence of severe stressors. The dynamics of psychopathological symptoms after AF manifestation was associated with different clinical forms of hypochondria.