OBJECTIVE: Valvular heart diseases, caused by rheumatic fever and another causes, can lead to implant of mechanical valve prosthesis and mandatory oral anticoagulation. Psychiatric comorbidity may reduce adherence to treatment. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses. METHODS: This study assessed 193 patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses, 135 of whom diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, version 5.0.0, was used to assess the presence of psychiatric disorders. RESULTS: The following psychiatric disorders were found in the patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses assessed: generalized anxiety disorder (16.6%); agoraphobia (11.9%); social phobia (10.4%); depression (9.8%); dysthymia (4.1% current and 1% past); obsessive-compulsive disorder (3.6%); panic - lifetime (1.6%); substance dependence or abuse (2%); alcohol dependence or abuse (1%); hypomanic episode (0.5% current; 0.5% past); and bulimia (0.5%). A 13.4% suicide risk was detected. When comparing the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the groups with and without rheumatic heart disease, no statistically significant difference was found. CONCLUSION: High comorbidity of psychiatric disorders, mainly depression and anxiety disorders, was observed in that population, in addition to a high suicide risk.
Heart valve prosthesis; rheumatic fever; psychiatric disorders; mental health
