Unrecognized paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Potential for misdiagnosis as panic disorder.
| Title: | Unrecognized paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Potential for misdiagnosis as panic disorder. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Lessmeier TJ; Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, USA.; Gamperling D; Johnson-Liddon V; Fromm BS; Steinman RT; Meissner MD; Lehmann MH |
| Source: | Archives of internal medicine [Arch Intern Med] 1997 Mar 10; Vol. 157 (5), pp. 537-43. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: American Medical Assn Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0372440 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0003-9926 (Print) Linking ISSN: 00039926 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Arch Intern Med Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Chicago, American Medical Assn. |
| MeSH Terms: | Diagnostic Errors*; Panic Disorder/*diagnosis ; Tachycardia, Paroxysmal/*diagnosis ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular/*diagnosis; Tachycardia, Paroxysmal/physiopathology ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular/physiopathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies |
| Abstract: | Background: The diagnostic criteria for panic disorder include symptoms commonly experienced by patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). Since electrocardiographic documentation of PSVT can be elusive, symptoms may be ascribed to other conditions.; Objective: To systematically evaluate the potential for PSVT to simulate panic disorder.; Methods: A retrospective survey of 107 consecutive patients with reentrant PSVT was conducted. Objective and subjective assessments of PSVT symptomatology were made, including the application of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), panic disorder criteria.; Results: The criteria for panic disorder according to DSM-IV were fulfilled by 67% of patients. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia was unrecognized after initial medical evaluation in 59 patients (55%), including 13 (41%) of 32 patients with ventricular preexcitation by electrocardiogram, and remained unrecognized for a median of 3.3 years. Prior to eventual identification of PSVT, physicians (nonpsychiatrists) attributed symptoms to panic, anxiety, or stress in 32 (54%) of the 59 patients. When PSVT was unrecognized, women were more likely than men to have symptoms ascribed to psychiatric origins (65% vs 32%, respectively; P < .04). Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia was detected in only 6 (9%) of 64 patients undergoing Holter monitoring vs 8 (47%) of 17 patients who wore an event monitor (P < .001). During a 20-month median follow-up, electrophysiologically guided therapy (ablation in 81% of patients) resolved symptoms in 86% of patients; only 4% continued to meet DSM-IV panic disorder criteria without evidence of PSVT recurrence.; Conclusions: The clinical characteristics of patients with PSVT referred for electrophysiologically guided therapy can mimic panic disorder. Diagnosis of PSVT is often delayed by inappropriate rhythm detection techniques (Holter instead of event monitoring) and failure to recognize ventricular preexcitation on the sinus electrocardiogram; symptoms due to unrecognized PSVT are often ascribed to psychiatric conditions. |
| Comments: | Comment in: Arch Intern Med. 1998 Feb 9;158(3):297. doi: 10.1001/archinte.158.3.297.. (PMID: 9472212); Comment in: Arch Intern Med. 1998 Apr 27;158(8):929. doi: 10.1001/archinte.158.8.929.. (PMID: 9570184) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 19970310 Date Completed: 19970401 Latest Revision: 20041117 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PMID: | 9066458 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article