Sudden death after emotional stress: A case history and literature review

Received 3 April 2008; received in revised form 3 August 2008; accepted 24 September 2008. published online 20 November 2008.

Abstract

An 84-year old women in no apparent distress suddenly died, unexpectedly, an hour after being notified of having a malignancy. Behavioural scientists have long speculated about the relationship between emotional stress and sudden death. We reviewed the presently available evidence regarding the neurophysiologic mechanisms of sudden death after emotional stress.

Keywords: Sudden death, Emotional stress, Neurophysiologic mechanisms

Department of General Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, Po Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands

Corresponding author. Admiraliteitskade 232, 3011 TT Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 71 5262585.

PII: S0953-6205(08)00276-8

doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2008.09.010

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