Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Observational Study
Depressive Symptoms and Perceptions of ED Care in Patients Evaluated for Acute Coronary Syndrome.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops in 1 out of 8 survivors of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) events, and these persons have a doubling of risk for recurrent ACS and mortality. Overcrowding in the emergency department during ACS evaluation has been associated with increased risk for PTSD, and depressed patients have been found to be particularly vulnerable. Little is known about the mechanisms by which overcrowding increases PTSD risk in depressed patients. Our aim was to evaluate one possible mechanism, patient perception of crowding and care, in depressed and nondepressed ED patients evaluated for ACS. ⋯ We found that depressed patients experienced the emergency department as more stressful as objectively measured crowding increased. Our study highlights the complex interplay between cardiovascular disease and mental health in impacting patient health outcomes in the emergency department.