Katharine Sears Edwards

All Publications

• Younger Age Impacts Perceptions of Care Received in the Emergency Department Among Women with Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection. Journal of women's health (2002) Stevens, C. J., Shaffer, J. A., Edwards, K. S., Masters, K. S., Leon, K. K., Wood, M. J., Pittman Wagers, T. 2022; 31 (8): 1165-1172

  Abstract

  Background: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a nonatherosclerotic etiology of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) that primarily affects younger women with few traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate how younger age impacts the perception of care women receive in the emergency department (ED) at the time of their first or only SCAD. Methods: SCAD survivors were recruited using SCAD Alliance social media platforms to complete a one-time online survey regarding their experiences of seeking treatment for SCAD in the ED and their post-SCAD recovery. A total of 409 participants consented to participate in the parent study and data collected from the 367 participants who reported female gender were further analyzed. Results: Fewer participants <50 years old than would be expected under the null hypothesis (i.e., 65.5% observed vs. 71.2% expected, p = 0.009) reported perceived serious treatment by ED staff, more participants <50 years than would be expected under the null hypothesis (i.e., 12.0% observed vs. 9.3% expected, p = 0.049) reported perceived dismissive treatment by ED staff, and more participants <50 years than would be expected under the null hypothesis (i.e., 13.3% observed vs. 10.8% expected, p = 0.02) reported discharge from the ED without a diagnosis. Conclusions: Results of this study highlight the different experiences of younger SCAD survivors' engaging with providers in the ED. Further research regarding strategies for increasing ED providers' clinical interrogation of SCAD when treating and evaluating younger female patients presenting with ACS symptoms is indicated.

  View details for DOI 10.1089/jwh.2021.0162

  View details for PubMedID 35172115

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC9378767

• Preliminary Support for Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to Reduce Psychological Distress in Patients with Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD). Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings Vaca, K. C., Tremmel, J. A., Edwards, K. S. 2021

  Abstract

  Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) can occur as an atypical cause of myocardial infarction. Preliminary evidence suggests that SCAD patients experience high rates of post-event psychological distress. It is unknown whether psychosocial interventions may reduce the distress burden. Seven SCAD patients (mean age=53.3years) completed a CBT-based support group. All seven participants completed measures for anxiety, depression, and cardiac-related quality of life at baseline and post-intervention, and five participants completed measures at 3-month follow-up. Six of 7 participants scored above the clinical threshold on a measure of anxiety at baseline and posttreatment. At follow-up, 3 of 5 participants scored below the clinical threshold. For depression, 3 of 7 reported elevated depressive symptoms at baseline. By follow-up, 1 of 5 endorsed elevated depressive symptoms. This is the first known psychosocial intervention study of patients with SCAD. Anxiety symptoms improved for most patients by follow-up with some patients having improved depressive symptoms. Although the sample size is limited, this pilot study suggests a potential benefit of group psychosocial interventions for SCAD survivors.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10880-021-09803-2

  View details for PubMedID 34241761

• Impact of cognitive behavioral therapy on depression symptoms after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A randomized controlled trial. International journal of cardiology Edwards, K. S., Chow, E. K., Dao, C., Hossepian, D., Johnson, A. G., Desai, M., Shah, S., Lee, A., Yeung, A. C., Fischbein, M., Fearon, W. F. 2020

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Depression is a significant concern after cardiac surgery and has not been studied in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We sought to examine the prevalence of pre-procedure depression and anxiety symptoms and explore whether brief bedside cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) could prevent post-TAVR psychological distress.METHODS: We prospectively recruited consecutive TAVR patients and randomized them to receive brief CBT or treatment as usual (TAU) during their hospitalization. Multi-level regression techniques were used to evaluate changes by treatment arm in depression, anxiety, and quality of life from baseline to 1 month post-TAVR adjusted for sex, race, DM, CHF, MMSE, and STS score.RESULTS: One hundred and forty six participants were randomized. The mean age was 82 years, and 43% were female. Self-reported depression and anxiety scores meeting cutoffs for clinical level distress were 24.6% and 23.2% respectively. Both TAU and CBT groups had comparable improvements in depressive symptoms at 1-month (31% reduction for TAU and 35% reduction for CBT, p = .83). Similarly, both TAU and CBT groups had comparable improvements in anxiety symptoms at 1-month (8% reduction for TAU and 11% reduction for CBT, p = .1). Quality of life scores also improved and were not significantly different between the two groups.CONCLUSIONS: Pre-procedure depression and anxiety may be common among patients undergoing TAVR. However, TAVR patients show spontaneous improvement in depression and anxiety scores at 1-month follow up, regardless of brief CBT. Further research is needed to determine whether more tailored CBT interventions may improve psychological and medical outcomes.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ijcard.2020.08.007

  View details for PubMedID 32800909

• Acceptance-based interventions in the treatment of PTSD: Group and individual pilot data using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy JOURNAL OF CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE Wharton, E., Edwards, K., Juhasz, K., Walser, R. D. 2019; 14: 55-64

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jcbs.2019.09.006

  View details for Web of Science ID 000502040800009

• Patient-Reported Psychological Distress After Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: EVIDENCE FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS. Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention Edwards, K. S., Vaca, K. C., Naderi, S., Tremmel, J. A. 2019

  Abstract

  PURPOSE: High rates of depression and anxiety are reported among patients who have experienced spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) but the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate symptoms of PTSD in women who have experienced SCAD.METHODS: This cross-sectional pilot study included 14 female SCAD patients, mean age of 51 yr, who responded to standardized psychosocial questionnaires at a median of 35 mo post-SCAD. Patients were identified by cardiologists as having had a SCAD event and were concurrently invited to participate in a psychosocial group for SCAD survivors.RESULTS: Participants reported current symptoms of stress (93%), insomnia (57%), anxiety (71%), depression (36%), and PTSD (43%). Eight of the 11 women who reported having a mental health history (72.7%) indicated that their symptoms were related to having experienced SCAD. Health-related quality of life and social support were comparable with other all-female cardiac samples. Patterns of perceived control were more similar to those of patients with cancer than other cardiac patients in that SCAD patients ranked "chance" as more likely than "self-control" to impact medical outcomes.CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of PTSD symptoms in this first-known assessment of post-traumatic stress among SCAD patients is concerning. The unexpected nature of SCAD and lack of known treatment options may play a role in patient distress. Future research is needed to accurately estimate rates of PTSD after SCAD and assess the benefits of treatment.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/HCR.0000000000000460

  View details for PubMedID 31343583

• Psychological Distress Among Female Cardiac Patients Presenting to a Women's Heart Health Clinic. The American journal of cardiology Edwards, K. S., Hekler, A. C., Baum, J., Nejedly, M., Tsai, S., Khandelwal, A., Naderi, S., Hoover, V., Tremmel, J. A. 2019

  Abstract

  Female cardiac patients are at greater risk for mental health disorders than their male counterparts, and these mental health disorders have been associated with increased cardiac morbidity and mortality. However, few studies have closely examined the mental health disorders found among the female cardiac population. The primary aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of psychological distress in a sample of female cardiac outpatients at an academic medical center. A secondary aim was to determine whether different demographic variables, cardiac risk factors, or cardiac diagnoses were associated with different levels of emotional distress. A survey, including demographic information, medical status, and standardized symptom measures was completed by 117 female patients scheduled for medical visits at an outpatient women's heart health clinic over a 4-month period. Using standardized self-report questionnaires, 38% scored in the moderate-to-severe range for at least 1 mental disorder and 50% endorsed current insomnia. Symptoms of clinical depression (20%) and anxiety (42)% were endorsed at higher rates than predominantly male or mixed comparison samples. Although there was no apparent relation between the severity of cardiac problems and the degree of psychological distress, women with diagnoses of hyperlipidemia, prediabetes, and diabetes reported greater psychological distress than those without these problems. Women with lower income also reported more psychological distress. In conclusion, our findings suggest an unmet need for integrated mental health services for female cardiac patients.

  View details for PubMedID 31006484

• Heart Rate Variability Markers as Correlates of Survival in Recipients of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Oncology nursing forum Scheiber, C. n., Johnston, L. n., Packer, M. n., Gevirtz, R. n., Edwards, K. S., Palesh, O. n. 2018; 45 (2): 250–59

  Abstract

  To assess pre-/post-transplantation changes in autonomic tone, as measured by heart rate variability (HRV), among patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and to look at those changes as they relate to post-transplantation survival rates. .Data were derived from a sample of 27 English-speaking patients undergoing allogeneic or autologous HCT at Stanford University. .A survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier estimator was employed to explore whether increased HRV would enhance survival probabilities over time among patients undergoing HCT..An increased probability of survival was significantly related to increases in two HRV indexes.HRV may be a useful predictor of mortality among patients undergoing HCT. Interventions deliverable by nurses could be used to enhance HRV for patients identified as being at risk for early mortality.

  View details for PubMedID 29466350

• Group Telephone Consultation After Online Self-Administered Training: Acceptability and Feasibility TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Edwards, K. S., Rosen, R. C., Smith, L. D., Garvert, D. W., Graham, B. C., Hoyman, L. C., Humphrey, S., Ruzek, J. I. 2017; 11 (3): 198–206

  View details for DOI 10.1037/tep0000153

  View details for Web of Science ID 000407395000014

• Anxiety Sensitivity or Interoceptive Sensitivity An Analysis of Feared Bodily Sensations EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Norton, P. J., Edwards, K. 2017; 33 (1): 30–37

  View details for DOI 10.1027/1015-5759/a000269

  View details for Web of Science ID 000394447300005

• Interdisciplinary psychosocial care for families with inherited cardiovascular diseases. Trends in cardiovascular medicine Caleshu, C., Kasparian, N. A., Edwards, K. S., Yeates, L., Semsarian, C., Perez, M., Ashley, E., Turner, C. J., Knowles, J. W., Ingles, J. 2016; 26 (7): 647-653

  Abstract

  Inherited cardiovascular diseases pose unique and complex psychosocial challenges for families, including coming to terms with life-long cardiac disease, risk of sudden death, grief related to the sudden death of a loved one, activity restrictions, and inheritance risk to other family members. Psychosocial factors impact not only mental health but also physical health and cooperation with clinical recommendations. We describe an interdisciplinary approach to the care of families with inherited cardiovascular disease, in which psychological care provided by specialized cardiac genetic counselors, nurses, and psychologists is embedded within the cardiovascular care team. We report illustrative cases and the supporting literature to demonstrate common scenarios, as well as practical guidance for clinicians working in the inherited cardiovascular disease setting.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.tcm.2016.04.010

  View details for PubMedID 27256036

• A Standardized Patient Methodology to Assess Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Skills Performance: Development and Testing in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Web-Based Training TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Edwards, K. S., Parish, S. J., Rosen, R. C., Garvert, D. W., Spangler, S. L., Ruzek, J. I. 2016; 10 (3): 149-156

  View details for DOI 10.1037/tep0000119

  View details for Web of Science ID 000383107400004

• Online Self-Administered Training of PTSD Treatment Providers in Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention Skills: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Ruzek, J. I., Rosen, R. C., Garvert, D. W., Smith, L. D., Sears, K. C., Marceau, L., Harty, B., Stoddard, A. M. 2014; 27 (6): 703-711

  Abstract

  Despite potential advantages in scalability and efficiency of web-based training for trauma providers, few controlled trials of feasibility and effectiveness of web-based mental health training have been performed. Our study compared web-based training in 3 intervention skills (motivation enhancement [ME], goal setting [GS], behavioral task assignment [BTA]) with web-based training plus telephone consultation, and a no-training control. The primary outcome measures included objective measures of skills acquisition (standardized patient assessments). Results showed significant differences among the training conditions. The overall tests of differences among the groups were statistically significant for ME and BTA skills (p < .001 and p = .005, respectively), but not for GS (p = .245). The web training plus consultation group improved in ME skills by 0.35 units compared to 0.12 units in the web only group (p < .001) and no change in the control group (p = .001). For BTA skills, the web training plus consultation improved by 0.27 units compared to 0.17 units in the web only group (p = .175) and no change in the control group (p = .004). Overall, these findings support the use of web-based dissemination for large-scale training programs for trauma providers in health care delivery systems. Further studies are needed to clarify the specific role of consultation as an adjunct to web-based training.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.21977

  View details for Web of Science ID 000346598700010

  View details for PubMedID 25522731