Psychological stress in postural tachycardia syndrome: results of an online survey

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a chronic condition in which patients show marked increase heart rate on standing, but also suffer from range additional symptoms, may include fatigue and unrefreshing sleep. A well accepted 10-item survey instrument, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; Cohen, et al., 1983), was used to investigate levels psychological stress experienced by POTS patients. Methods Sixty Swedish diagnosed with at tertiary investigation center were contacted mail link provided respondents who signed informed consent form. 64-item, on-line developed five sections. One sections consisted ten items PSS scale. As an example, item three asks: "In last month, how often have you felt nervous ‘stressed’?". five-point Likert scale possible responses ranging "never" "very often". This study employed previously translated language version, has been validated sample 3,406 showed good internal reliability (α =.84) normative data for population (Nordin & Nordin, 2013). Symptoms measured using hypotension questionnaire (Kaufmann al. 2012). Results Twenty-four (22 female gender; mean age 35 years, SD = 8.4) completed survey. The average onset symptoms 20 years four months waiting nine diagnosis. Scores ranged 35. score this cohort 19.38 (SD 8.88). Fourteen moderate perceived (14 26), whilst can be considered low perception high perception. Patients had statistically significant higher (M 19.38, 8.88, p < .01) than general Sweden 13.96, 5.63). However, there no correlation between perceptions symptom severity questionnaire. Conclusions stress, similar other disease states such as pain multiple sclerosis (Table 1). found severity.