Cardiac Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death

Cardiac arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death are two manifestations of cardiacrelated disease outcomes. Cardiac arrhythmias can have diverse etiologies that reflect underlying structural and electrical abnormalities, some secondary to other disease conditions. Psychosocial factors can and do influence the occurrence of arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death mediated through the influence of autonomic factors and because of their impact of arrhythmia on quality of life. Research studies typically rely on both field-based and laboratory-based methods. Field methods rely upon ambulatory monitoring of the ECG, often in concert with momentary assessment of factors, such as mood, stress, and activity, and interpersonal interaction. Laboratory methods similarly rely upon monitoring of the ECG and utilize controlled manipulations of stress and emotion. Behavioral interventions to address the arrhythmia risk associated with factors such as negative emotion and stress may hold promise.