Patients' drawings illustrate psychological and functional status in heart failure

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate whether the heart drawings of patients with heart failure are associated with their psychological, functional, and clinical status.MethodsSixty patients with heart failure completed a written questionnaire that included a heart drawing task, measures of psychological functioning, and illness perceptions.ResultsPatients drew their heart significantly bigger in height when they depicted their heart with failure as compared with how they depicted their heart before their heart failure. Greater levels of heart-specific anxiety were associated with significantly larger drawings as measured by height and overall area. Compared with those who drew no damage, patients who drew damage had significantly higher levels of depression and more negative beliefs about their illness. Drawings also had a significant relationship with the clinical markers of illness severity, B-type natriuretic peptide level, and sodium level.ConclusionsHeart drawings of patients with heart failure are associated with important psychological and clinical indicators of health status. Drawings offer an innovative way to understand patients' perceptions of illness and personal models of heart failure.