ABSTRACT
Recurring chest pain and other cardiac symptoms that cannot be adequately explained by organic pathology are common and can be associated with substantial disability, distress and high healthcare costs. Common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety frequently co-occur with these symptoms and, in some cases, account for their presentation, although they are not universally present. Due to the frequency of functional cardiac presentations and risks of iatrogenic harm, physicians should be familiar with strategies to identify, assess and communicate with patients about these symptoms. A systematic and multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and management is often needed. Health beliefs, concerns and any associated behaviours should be elicited and addressed throughout. Psychiatric comorbidities should be concurrently identified and treated. For those with persistent symptoms, psychosocial outcomes can be poor, highlighting the need for further research and investment in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and multidisciplinary service models.
Introduction
Experiencing a symptom suggestive of heart disease or being investigated for or diagnosed with any type of cardiac problem is frightening. While this may seem an obvious statement, it is a fact sometimes forgotten in clinical practice. Nearly a century ago, Auerback citing Conor noted ‘The psychic reaction to doubt concerning the integrity of the heart ... seems to be much more violent and profound than is the case with any of the other internal organs.’1 The uniquely emotive nature of cardiac symptoms may be one of several factors contributing to both the suspected high rates of cardiac symptoms in somatoform disorders and high levels of psychiatric comorbidity (such as depression and anxiety) associated with cardiac symptoms of either an organic or non-organic origin.2,3
Diagnosis and management of functional cardiac symptoms is challenging. It requires delineation between multiple potential physical conditions (including cardiac, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, respiratory, neurological, vascular and haematological disorders), somatic symptoms of a psychiatric disorder (such as anxiety, depression, panic attack or post-traumatic stress disorder) or a combination of these issues. Awareness of, sensitivity to and curiosity about beliefs and health attributions that patients hold regarding the meaning of their symptoms is the first principle of assessment and management. These should be directly elicited and addressed throughout investigation, diagnosis and treatment. The language, clinical approach and information given in consultations may have an impact on both patient experience and illness course, including persistence of symptoms and use of healthcare services.1,4–8 It is critically important that clinicians recognise and acknowledge the reality and impact of these symptoms on patients.9
Clinical presentation and classification
Common symptoms include non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP), palpitations, breathlessness and syncope. There is substantial variation in presentation and severity.10 Some patients present with a single symptom (such as NCCP) while others present with multiple symptoms (such as fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath and palpitations). Severity ranges from minor distress or concern with resolution of symptoms to persistent symptoms, severe distress, associated disability and extremely high healthcare use.11–14
There is ongoing debate over how best to classify these presentations and the terminology used to describe them.15–18 Approaches have included description of syndromes involving one symptom (eg NCCP), several symptoms (‘bodily distress syndrome’) compatible with the cardiopulmonary system and symptoms involving multiple body systems.19,20 Classification systems based on prognostic factors (eg self-limiting versus recurrent and persistent symptoms) have been suggested to have practical benefits.10
NCCP (also known as syndrome X and non-specific chest pain) is defined as angina-like chest pain without evidence of epicardial coronary artery disease.21–23 The finding that 82% of patients with NCCP who had had gastrointestinal causes excluded as a cause for the pain also met criteria for at least one other functional disorder highlights some of the challenges with a symptom-based classification approach.24
Pathogenesis
As with all functional disorders, the pathogenesis of symptoms is poorly understood. A range of studies has been conducted to explore potential physiological mechanisms in NCCP. Carbon dioxide inhalation studies demonstrate pharmacological provocation of anxiety-elicited chest pain and findings of increased sensitivity to pressure and pain in the oesophagus have been reported.25–28 Neurobiological studies on the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders have suggested increased sensory responsiveness.29 Interoceptive sensitivity and heartbeat perception have been investigated as mechanisms behind increased self-reporting of somatic sensations and related dysfunctional cognitive appraisal of what these sensations mean.30 While interesting, these findings have not yet translated into routine clinical practice.31,32
Purely biological models fall short of the well-known and observed interrelationship between psychological and physiological elements of persistent physical symptoms. Health attributions can influence the development and persistence of symptoms, as patients with medically unexplained symptoms are more likely to attribute their illness to physical causes compared with other factors.6 The most compelling models consider multiple factors contributing to the development and persistence of functional symptoms (Fig 1). Such models link the physiological impact of chronic stress with increased sensitisation to physical symptoms, resultant symptom hypervigilance, and behavioural responses including stress avoidance and symptom monitoring.7 These support observations that individuals with NCCP exhibit characteristic behaviours, including more time spent monitoring symptoms and accessing fewer coping strategies in comparison with both healthy controls and other patients with chronic pain.33 The particular relevance of these findings to the clinician is that lack of explanation as to what these symptoms are can increase anxiety, symptoms and symptom focus, perpetuating and worsening the cycle.7
Model for the pathogenesis of functional cardiac disorders.
How common are these problems?
Reported prevalence rates vary according to study setting (eg primary versus secondary care) and criteria used to quantify or classify the clinical presentation.34 Estimates of medically unexplained symptoms seen in cardiology clinics have been reported at around 30–40% of presentations.6,35 Within primary care, symptoms associated with the cardiopulmonary system consistently feature in the most common types of symptoms described by 3–10% of all adult patients that have persistent medically unexplained symptoms.10,36 With the exception of NCCP, epidemiological studies have tended to focus on medically unexplained symptoms more widely rather than just cardiac presentations. Within this work, there are associations with female sex, younger age and being currently employed; however, there are differences for those with persistent symptoms.6,14
The epidemiology of NCCP, specifically, is relatively better studied. It is extremely common with a 1-year prevalence of 14%, accounting for 37–61% of emergency department presentations with chest pain.37–39 It is most common in younger adults and there is no significant gender difference.40,41 These demographic clues may help reassure the clinician providing a diagnosis to younger patients, but in older patients or those with more risk factors for coronary heart disease, they have minimal influence on clinical work up and investigations chosen.
Clinical approach and diagnosis
Unfortunately, the diagnosis of functional cardiac disorders is frequently delayed with patients sometimes consulting numerous healthcare professionals without receiving a satisfactory diagnosis. The non-specific nature of some cardiopulmonary symptoms and overlap with physical symptoms of anxiety, somatic symptoms of depression, upper gastrointestinal disorders and seizure disorders means that identification and management require a systematic approach (Table 1). This involves exclusion of serious pathology alongside consideration of and assessment for any comorbid mental health conditions from the outset. This allows early identification of any psychiatric cause for symptoms and evaluation of comorbid psychiatric disorders, which are very common in cardiac disease. Rigorous history, judicious use of investigations and good communication with the patient are essential. Differential diagnoses for NCCP, syncope and palpitations are broad and are described alongside suggested investigations in Table 2. Psychiatric differential diagnoses include affective disorders, substance misuse and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Essential differential diagnoses and work-up for functional cardiac symptoms
Psychiatric differential diagnosis of medically unexplained cardiac symptoms
Among patients presenting with NCCP, exclusion of acute coronary syndromes is the priority, followed by gastrointestinal causes.42 Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) has been demonstrated in 29–67% of individuals with NCCP, and frequency of heartburn is an independent risk factor for development of NCCP.40,43–45 In those without GORD, there is a controversial relationship to oesophageal dysmotility.26,46 There are, however, a substantial proportion of patients who experience functional dyspepsia.47 Within this patient group, NCCP could be considered a functional cardiac or gastrointestinal illness.8
The high prevalence of symptoms, the likelihood of a mixed clinical picture and the risks of harm from over-investigation all highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach with input from general practitioners, emergency medicine, cardiology, gastroenterology and psychiatry.21 With current service configurations, however, this level of integration and coordinated working is rarely achieved. Indeed, it is usually initiated only after a patient has received multiple investigations and inadvertently been subjected to sustained uncertainty, fragmented care and inconsistent communication about the suspected cause of their symptoms. The finding that patients with NCCP tend to receive more investigations than those with cardiac chest pain highlights both the clinical and economic arguments for a multidisciplinary approach.39
It is recommended that, when there are high levels of confidence in the likelihood of a functional presentation, investigation is kept to a minimum. In reality, this is difficult due to the potential consequences of missing a life-threating diagnosis and the mutual desire for reassurance in both the patient and physician. Both the rigour and reassurance of a multidisciplinary opinion may help ameliorate these difficulties. One caveat when considering early cessation of investigations is to ensure clinicians are aware of the higher risk of cardiovascular diseases in patients with mental health problems and the risk of diagnostic overshadowing in these patients' care.48,49
Do medically unexplained cardiac symptoms mean there is a psychiatric disorder?
Psychiatric conditions can be a comorbidity of, consequence of or explanation for persistent cardiac symptoms. Overall, there is a higher risk of psychiatric comorbidity in those who have persistent and/or multiple unexplained symptoms.38,50 Within the literature specifically on NCCP, psychiatric comorbidity is common with one study reporting 61% of patients meeting criteria for a psychiatric disorder.51
More specifically, cardiac symptoms can be a presenting symptom of an underlying psychiatric disorder, including depression, anxiety disorders, bodily distress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance misuse. A panic attack is a common reason for a young person to present to hospital with chest pain and is characterised by severe anxiety associated with signs of autonomic arousal, including palpitations or tachycardia, sweating, shaking, dry mouth, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. Treatment involves explanation of the physiological responses in anxiety followed by cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and/or a selective serotonin receptor uptake inhibitor (SSRI).
The high prevalence of both coronary heart disease and anxiety/depression, and comorbidity with both of these conditions in the general population can mean that the clinical picture is often complex with multiple factors contributing to the presentation. All patients with cardiovascular disease should be screened for the presence of depression and anxiety.
Comorbidity of cardiovascular disease and psychiatric disorders and co-occurrence of both organic and functional cardiac symptoms is common. Approximately 30% of individuals with NCCP have a history of cardiac disease and it is those with a cardiac history who have more psychological distress.52,53 The best strategy is to ensure psychiatric comorbidities are identified, their treatment optimised and that a clear multidisciplinary management plan is in place.
Clinical course and prognosis of functional symptoms
When NCCP is adequately investigated and diagnosed, the mortality is low.51,54,55 However, in terms of ongoing chest pain, outcomes are often poor with 28–90% of patients still experiencing symptoms months to years later.54,56,57 Predictors of ongoing chest pain are female sex, a higher total number of symptoms and high levels of hypochondriasis.54,58,59
Management
Interventions
The most important aspect of management is patient-centred communication and an explanation of the diagnosis, which can be therapeutic in itself. A suggested approach is described in Table 3, but it must be tailored to the individual. Many symptoms are transient, so watchful waiting for 2 weeks is often justified.60 Thereafter, a stepped-care approach, where less invasive interventions are tried first, is recommended.60,61 All patients should be offered psychoeducation and active monitoring.61 Support groups and support with employment and education may also be offered.61 For those with persistent or moderately severe symptoms, CBT (which can be arranged via Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT)) has been recommended.60 Antidepressants, usually selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, may also be used. 60
Explaining the diagnosis of functional cardiac disorders
In respect to NCCP, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) produce an excellent response where GORD is present, but there is convincing evidence that they are no better than placebo when it is absent.62 A PPI may be worthwhile as a diagnostic and therapeutic trial.26 A Cochrane review of psychological interventions in NCCP found that psychological therapy was associated with a modest to moderate benefit with improvements in chest pain in the first 3 months and at subsequent follow-up; there was most evidence for CBT, but hypnotherapy was also suggested as an alternative.63 No adverse effects were identified. The use of antidepressants for NCCP is a plausible strategy as they could target comorbid depression and anxiety, and some have evidence for neuropathic pain. A systematic review of the use of antidepressant medication for NCCP found six randomised controlled trials, featuring sertraline, paroxetine, imipramine, venlafaxine and trazodone.64 Meta-analysis found that there were significant reductions in symptoms for sertraline, venlafaxine and imipramine with improvement in chest pain independent of antidepressant effect, but adverse effects were more common than in the placebo group. A suggested approach to management is shown in Fig 2.
Management algorithm for functional cardiac disorders. IAPT = Improving Access to Psychological Therapy.
Multimodal and multidisciplinary care approaches
Relative to functional gastrointestinal disorders, advances in diagnostics and therapeutics for functional cardiac symptoms remain relatively under-developed with recommendations mainly focusing on exclusion of acute coronary syndrome or coronary artery disease.8,47 Literature from both cardiac-specific functional symptoms and from study of other persistent symptoms suggests that integrated care using a biopsychosocial approach to diagnosis and management is the most effective way to manage patients with these conditions.65–67
Multidisciplinary treatment models have been tested and have shown positive results.66–68 A biopsychosocial multidisciplinary stepped-care clinic for chest pain involving both cardiology and psychology demonstrated a reduction in symptom burden and unplanned healthcare utilisation.67 Under this service model, patients receive a comprehensive integrated assessment, a biopsychosocial formulation for their symptoms and onward referral to CBT as indicated. Patient-reported benefits included better understanding and experience of control over their symptoms.67
Conclusion
Functional cardiac symptoms are common and can be clinically challenging both to diagnose and, in the case of persistent symptoms, to treat. Clinicians should be aware of psychiatric differential diagnoses and comorbidities, and ensure early enquiry about relevant clinical features such as mood, health attributions, and impact on social and occupational functioning. Early identification or suspicion of comorbid anxiety and/or depression including panic disorder should be followed up with prompt referral to primary care and psychology (IAPT). The attitude of clinicians can influence clinical outcome. Too often, patients experience stigmatising attitudes towards these symptoms rather than receiving a biopsychosocial formulation that validates their experience, helps them understand and manage their condition, and helps them engage with evidence-based psychological interventions that can impact outcomes.
Overall, current UK service provision still fails to reflect the high prevalence of these conditions, the high rates of mental health comorbidity with cardiac disease, and the burden of disability and cost generated by them.12 Integration of mental health professionals as routine into cardiology services with the ability to work in a collaborative manner particularly around diagnosis remains an exception rather than the norm. This contributes to delays in diagnosis and treatment, fragmented care, poor patient experience and, potentially, poorer outcomes. Within the UK, recent national policy has highlighted the importance of better service provision for patients living with persistent symptoms, but further work to develop effective treatment models and service configurations is needed.69,70
- © Royal College of Physicians 2021. All rights reserved.
