Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is responsible for 300,000 deaths annually. The use of ICD has improved survival rates following SCD episodes. However ICD may causes anxiety in patients. ICD shock is suspected as cause of enhanced anxiety.

The aim of present study was to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety disorders in patients with ICD.

In a case- control study with random sampling of 57 patients with ICD (at least 6 month after ICD implantation) they were compared with 57 patients without ICD as control group. In this study the SADS questionnaire and DSM- IV structured interview were used. The relation of gender, age, marital status and shock with anxiety was determined. The analysis was done using descriptive and qualitative statistics.

Frequency of anxiety disorders in ICD patients was 47.4%. 19.3% panic disorder, 47.4% GAD, 12.3% phobia and 5.3% OCD. PTSD was not seen in ICD patients in this study. There was a significant difference in frequency of anxiety disorders between ICD patients and control group (P= 0.001). The most frequent disorders in patients with ICD were GAD. The incidence of anxiety disorders in patients with and without ICD discharge was 84% and 18% respectively. Anxiety disorder was significantly related to the ICD discharge (P< 0.0001).

Among the anxiety disorders GAD was observed to be the most frequent in the patients with ICD discharge rather than patients without ICD.