Vital Exhaustion

Willem J. Kop

Vital exhaustion is a psychosocial risk indicator for adverse cardiovascular health outcomes, including myocardial infarction and recurrent cardiac events following percutaneous coronary interventions. Exhaustion has three characteristic components: lack of energy, increased irritability, and demoralization. The duration of an episode of exhaustion can vary from 2 weeks to 2 years. Individuals should not be classified as exhausted if the condition lasts longer than 2 years without showing an increase within that period. Reliable questionnaire and interview-derived assessment instruments have been developed. In patients with cardiovascular disease, prevalence estimates of exhaustion range from 30% to 50%, compared to 5% in the general adult population. Exhaustion is purportedly the end stage of prolonged uncontrollable psychological distress and has biological correlates relevant to the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease progression. Psychosocial intervention techniques have been proven feasible in patients with coronary artery disease. The construct vital exhaustion was developed using empirical techniques aimed vital ...

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