Panic Attack during Elective Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

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 t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Charalampos Mitsonis, Nikolaos Dimopoulos, Marianna Zavrou, Vassiliki Psarra, Christos Giofkos, Christos Fiorakis, Athanasios Dimitriadis, Dimitrios Valavanis, Eleni Vousoura, Iannis Zervas, Efstathios Papavassiliou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Gastroenterology Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/162574
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850231882210344960
author Charalampos Mitsonis
Nikolaos Dimopoulos
Marianna Zavrou
Vassiliki Psarra
Christos Giofkos
Christos Fiorakis
Athanasios Dimitriadis
Dimitrios Valavanis
Eleni Vousoura
Iannis Zervas
Efstathios Papavassiliou
author_facet Charalampos Mitsonis
Nikolaos Dimopoulos
Marianna Zavrou
Vassiliki Psarra
Christos Giofkos
Christos Fiorakis
Athanasios Dimitriadis
Dimitrios Valavanis
Eleni Vousoura
Iannis Zervas
Efstathios Papavassiliou
author_sort Charalampos Mitsonis
collection DOAJ
description 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.
format Article
id doaj-art-08fffd0b0c1c49b3a0bbf8d078dee1aa
institution OA Journals
issn 1687-6121
1687-630X
language English
publishDate 2011-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Gastroenterology Research and Practice
spelling doaj-art-08fffd0b0c1c49b3a0bbf8d078dee1aa2025-08-20T02:03:23ZengWileyGastroenterology Research and Practice1687-61211687-630X2011-01-01201110.1155/2011/162574162574Panic Attack during Elective Gastrointestinal EndoscopyCharalampos Mitsonis0Nikolaos Dimopoulos1Marianna Zavrou2Vassiliki Psarra3Christos Giofkos4Christos Fiorakis5Athanasios Dimitriadis6Dimitrios Valavanis7Eleni Vousoura8Iannis Zervas9Efstathios Papavassiliou1018th Psychiatric Department, Psychiatric Hospital of Attiki “Dafni”, 374 Athinon Avenue, 12462 Chaidari, Greece6th Psychiatric Department, Psychiatric Hospital of Attiki “Dromokaition”, Iera Odos 243, 12461 Athens, Greece6th Psychiatric Department, Psychiatric Hospital of Attiki “Dromokaition”, Iera Odos 243, 12461 Athens, Greece3rd Psychiatric Department, Psychiatric Hospital of Attiki “Dafni”, 374 Athinon Avenue, 12462 Chaidari, Greece6th Psychiatric Department, Psychiatric Hospital of Attiki “Dromokaition”, Iera Odos 243, 12461 Athens, Greece6th Psychiatric Department, Psychiatric Hospital of Attiki “Dromokaition”, Iera Odos 243, 12461 Athens, Greece6th Psychiatric Department, Psychiatric Hospital of Attiki “Dromokaition”, Iera Odos 243, 12461 Athens, GreeceF. P. Ps. Program of Psychology, Zografou University Campus, 15703 Athens, GreeceFirst Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Vas. Sofias 72-74, 11528 Athens, GreeceFirst Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Vas. Sofias 72-74, 11528 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Gastroenterology, Amalia Fleming Hospital, 25 Martiou 14, 15127 Melissia, GreeceBackground. 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.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/162574
spellingShingle Charalampos Mitsonis
Nikolaos Dimopoulos
Marianna Zavrou
Vassiliki Psarra
Christos Giofkos
Christos Fiorakis
Athanasios Dimitriadis
Dimitrios Valavanis
Eleni Vousoura
Iannis Zervas
Efstathios Papavassiliou
Panic Attack during Elective Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Gastroenterology Research and Practice
title Panic Attack during Elective Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
title_full Panic Attack during Elective Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
title_fullStr Panic Attack during Elective Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
title_full_unstemmed Panic Attack during Elective Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
title_short Panic Attack during Elective Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
title_sort panic attack during elective gastrointestinal endoscopy
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/162574
work_keys_str_mv AT charalamposmitsonis panicattackduringelectivegastrointestinalendoscopy
AT nikolaosdimopoulos panicattackduringelectivegastrointestinalendoscopy
AT mariannazavrou panicattackduringelectivegastrointestinalendoscopy
AT vassilikipsarra panicattackduringelectivegastrointestinalendoscopy
AT christosgiofkos panicattackduringelectivegastrointestinalendoscopy
AT christosfiorakis panicattackduringelectivegastrointestinalendoscopy
AT athanasiosdimitriadis panicattackduringelectivegastrointestinalendoscopy
AT dimitriosvalavanis panicattackduringelectivegastrointestinalendoscopy
AT elenivousoura panicattackduringelectivegastrointestinalendoscopy
AT ianniszervas panicattackduringelectivegastrointestinalendoscopy
AT efstathiospapavassiliou panicattackduringelectivegastrointestinalendoscopy