Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association
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Comparative Study
Somatosensory amplification mediates sex differences in psychological distress among cardioverter-defibrillator patients.
The present study examined whether female patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) report more psychological distress than male patients, and whether somatosensory amplification mediates this relationship. ⋯ Somatosensory amplification mediated the relationship between female sex and heightened anxiety, phobic anxiety, and somatic health complaints in ICD patients. Women may be more likely to misinterpret bodily sensations as indicative of deterioration in their condition. Interventions focusing on modifying these dysfunctional beliefs may reduce their psychological distress.