Supraventricular Tachycardia Ablation and Its Effects on Anxiety Medications

Patients with true paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) are frequently misdiagnosed with panic or anxiety disorders due to similar symptoms of palpitations, light-headedness, dyspnea, or chest discomfort. Unrecognized PSVT can lead to unnecessary management with anxiety medications. Treatment of PSVT with catheter ablation may lead to a reduction in anxiety medications.  Methods: A total of 175 patients underwent successful PSVT ablation between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2020. We examined symptoms at presentation, psychiatric medications prior to PSVT ablation, comorbidities, and psychiatric medications at three months post-ablation.  Results: Fifteen percent of patients who underwent successful PSVT ablation were being treated with psychiatric medications and included in the final study population. The most common symptoms were palpitations (80.77%), followed by dizziness (42.31%), and shortness of breath (34.62%). The average number of medications prior to ablation was 1.42 and decreased to 1.08 at three months post-ablation (p = 0.04). The average number of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and other anxiolytics also decreased but was not statistically significant.

In patients with anxiety and PSVT, catheter ablation reduced the average number of psychiatric medications.