Mental Health and Interoceptive Sensibility in Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions: A Clinical Investigation of...

Integrated care models that address both the physical and psychological needs of patients with inherited cardiovascular conditions (ICCs) are increasingly recommended to support patient well-being. While existing research has highlighted elevated psychiatric symptomatology in ICCs, prior studies have typically relied on limited psychometric assessments. This study aimed to extend this literature by employing a broader, multi-dimensional approach to assess psychiatric symptoms and interoceptive sensibility in this patient population.

A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted at a national referral centre, involving 101 ICC patients (48.5% females; M_age = 47.3, SD = 11.1), who completed psychometric assessments. The main psychological domains screened through multiple scales were depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and interoception (PHQ9, GAD7, SCL-90R, MAIA-2).

The study found significantly higher rates of self-reported depression (24.7%) and anxiety (29.7%) symptomatology in ICC patients compared to general population norms (p < 0.001). Elevated perceived stress levels were reported by 67.3% of the sample, along with higher levels of somatization and paranoid ideation (all p < 0.001). Patients also showed increased interoceptive sensibility, including heightened awareness of body sensations (p = 0.002), greater body listening (p < 0.001), and difficulty regulating unpleasant body sensations (p = 0.017). Exploratory analyses indicated that psychological distress was more pronounced among women and those reporting poor sleep or limited physical activity.

These findings are consistent with prior evidence suggesting a psychological vulnerability in ICC patients and underscore the importance of considering interoceptive and mental health factors in care planning. Due to the cross-sectional and self-report nature of the study, longitudinal and clinical research is needed to clarify underlying mechanisms.