The influence of psychological factors on cardiac palpitations
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The influence of interoceptive awareness on the frequency and accuracy of self-reported cardiac events during routine ambulatory ECG monitoring for patients complaining of palpitations.
IRAS ID
259606
Contact name
Lauren Jenkins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 29 days
Research summary
The aim of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between level of interoceptive awareness, accuracy of self-reported palpitations to actual cardiac events, and frequency of events. Patients who are routinely referred for an ambulatory heart monitor at the William Harvey Hospital for palpitations will be invited to take part.
Palpitations are a highly common reason for referral in cardiology departments, and whilst some cases can be linked to life-threatening conditions, most cases are not perceived as serious. When finding the cause, patients can often end up having repeat referrals for diagnostic testing, which is likely to cause further distress and worry. Even when patients are diagnosed with a cause, current treatment can often fail to provide symptom relief, which is a significant factor for improving quality of life. For that reason it is important to find alternative ways for patients to manage their symptoms, but first it is essential to understand why it is that some patients are more sensitive to symptoms than others.
Interoception is defined as the awareness of internal bodily sensations. Whilst this is suggested to be important for well-being, increased level of bodily awareness has also been strongly associated with anxiety and hypervigilance, which can ultimately have an unhealthy influence on an individual’s perception of their health. With all this in mind, it is possible that those who experience cardiac symptoms may well have a heightened interoceptive awareness. If this is the case, then future work can look at alternative treatment methods that can teach patients how to focus their attention in a way that helps them cope with their symptoms, and ultimately improve their quality of life.REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NE/0187
Date of REC Opinion
6 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion