Examining Psychometric Indicators of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease in Ahvaz City in 1401

Abstract

Background & aim: Psychosocial factors are crucial for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), but the type and outcome of anxiety disorders in these patients have not been studied as much as other risk factors. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine and investigate psychometric indicators of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in CAD patients. Methods: The present research applied a descriptive-cross-sectional method. The statistical population included all patients with CAD referred to Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran,in 2022. Two-hundred and nine participants were selected using available sampling method and completed the 7-item scale of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7). The collected data were analyzed using Cronbach's alpha, Pearson's correlation coefficient, independent t test, one-way analysis of variance, exploratory factor analysis and Imus. Results: The mean and standard deviation of age for men was 58.47±10.45 and for women it was 62.40±9.47. 152 people (72.73%) were men, Cronbach's alpha was equal to 0.936 and a one-factor model was obtained using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated that the modified one-factor model of GAD-7 (this factor is named GAD-7) had a good fit. Conclusion: since CAD patients experience high anxiety, it is important to use a short and valid tool to determine their anxiety. Therefore, GAD-7 has worthy psychometric properties for use in patients with CAD.

Keywords

• anxiety
• coronary artery disease (cad)
• gad-7
• psychometric properties