Stress Proneness in Molecularly Defined Long QT Syndrome: A Study Using Temperament Assessment by Behavioural Inhibition System Scale

Abstract

The long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an inherited cardiac disorder that predisposes the mutation carrier to ventricular arrhythmias that can lead to sudden death. The objective of the present study was to replicate the previous finding in terms of stress-related temperament trait, i.e. behavioural inhibition system (BIS). The study subjects included 583 LQTS mutation carriers (256 symptomatic and 327 asymptomatic) from the Finnish LQTS registry and 79 healthy subjects randomly derived from the population-based sample of the Young Finns Study. Symptomatic and asymptomatic LQTS mutation carriers did not differ from each other on BIS (3.27 versus 3.24, p > 0.05), whereas LQTS mutation carriers scored higher on BIS than the comparison group derived from the representative population-based sample (3.25 versus 2.99, p = 0.003, η² = 0.014). BIS was significantly higher in women than in men (3.32 versus 3.06, p < 0.001, η² = 0.017). The results confirm our previous finding of higher stress proneness of LQTS mutation carriers. Their innate stress proneness may have relevance because it increases our understanding on the role of stress in the manifestation of symptoms.

Type 1 long QT syndrome and psychological stress in a laboratory setting

“…There is also causation to different direction so that people with stronger response to stressful tasks are more prone to develop future high BP (Gasperin et al, 2009). It has to be noted that the results of this study differ from previous research studying long-term stress exposure or reactivity of LQTS patients (Hintsa et al, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016; Määttänen et al, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015).…”

Brief report: Emotional distress and recent stressful life events in long QT syndrome mutation carriers

“…Some previous studies have revealed an interaction of personal traits and environmental stress. Symptomatic and asymptomatic LQTS mutation carriers have been found to be equally stress-prone in terms of their temperamental predisposition such as harm avoidance (Määttänen et al, 2011) and behavioral inhibition (Määttänen et al, 2013), and both have higher stress-proneness than the general population in the same measures. On the other hand, symptomatic LQTS mutation carriers have been shown to report higher level of chronic stress (vital exhaustion) (Hintsa et al, 2010) and stressful work involvement (Määttänen et al, 2012) than asymptomatic LQTS mutation carriers.…”

Compound and heterozygous mutations of KCNQ1 in long QT syndrome with familial history of unexplained sudden death: Identified by analysis of whole exome sequencing and predisposing genes

“…Furthermore, no adverse cardiac event was evaluated by ICD monitoring after being instructed to avoid inducing factors and conduct stress management. Stress management, especially among symptomatic LQTS mutations carriers might decrease the risk of an adverse cardiac event (Hintsa et al, 2013;Määttänen et al, 2013), and thus stress management should be a key link in the treatment of LQTS.…”