|
| HOME | SUBSCRIPTIONS | CURRENT ISSUE | PAST ISSUES | CARDIOSOURCE | SEARCH | HELP | FEEDBACK |
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
J Am Coll Cardiol, 1998; 32:613-619 © 1998 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation |
a Institute of Cardiology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
Manuscript received March 24, 1997; revised manuscript received April 30, 1998, accepted May 13, 1998.
Address for correspondence: Dr. Carlo Pignalberi, Istituto di Cardiologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Roma, Italy
Objectives. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of psychological distress and of its major determinants in acute coronary patients and in a control group.
Background. The prevalence and major determinants of psychological distress in acute coronary patients are not clear.
Methods. One hundred and thirty cardiac patients (110 men, age 56 ± 9; 85 with acute myocardial infarction and 45 with unstable angina) and 102 controls hospitalized for acute trauma (70 men, age 55 ± 9 years) were studied and the level of psychological distress estimated by a Modified Maastricht Questionnaire, self-ratings and ratings by a close relative. Major determinants of psychological distress were assessed by the Life Events Assessment, the Social Support Questionnaire and the Ways of Coping Checklist.
Results. The average level of psychological distress was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in coronary patients than in controls in all tests (self-evaluation = 7.1 ± 2.3 vs 4.3 ± 2.4; relative-evaluation = 7.4 ± 2.4 vs 4.2 ± 2.5; Modified Maastricht Questionnaire = 91 ± 32 vs 59 ± 30). Cardiac patients reported significantly higher (p < 0.05) levels of social isolation (28.9 ± 11.1 vs 23.4 ± 8.8), self-blame (7.2 ± 1.9 vs 5.8 ± 1.6) and avoidance (21.1 ± 3.5 vs 18.9 ± 3) and more painful life events (3.9 ± 3.8 vs 2.6 ± 2.2), than controls. However, not all patients had evidence of distress; indeed, cluster analysis identified a subgroup that comprised 75% of controls and 25% of cardiac patients with no determinants eliciting distress, while the other four subgroups, with one or more determinants of distress, comprised about 75% of patients and only 25% of controls.
Conclusions. These results show that a high level of psychological distress is detectable in about 75% of patients with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina and is related to one or more major determinants.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  G Burazeri, A Goda, G Sulo, J Stefa, and J D Kark Financial loss in pyramid savings schemes, downward social mobility and acute coronary syndrome in transitional Albania J. Epidemiol. Community Health, July 1, 2008; 62(7): 620 - 626. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Sudha, E. J. Mutran, I. C. Williams, and C. Suchindran Childbearing History and Self-Reported Well-Being in Later Life: Contrasting Older African American and White Women Research on Aging, September 1, 2006; 28(5): 599 - 621. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. K. Ferketich and P. F. Binkley Psychological distress and cardiovascular disease: results from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey Eur. Heart J., September 2, 2005; 26(18): 1923 - 1929. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Carpeggiani, M. Emdin, F. Bonaguidi, P. Landi, C. Michelassi, M. G. Trivella, A. Macerata, and A. L'Abbate Personality traits and heart rate variability predict long-term cardiac mortality after myocardial infarction Eur. Heart J., August 2, 2005; 26(16): 1612 - 1617. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Denollet, J. Vaes, and D. L. Brutsaert Inadequate Response to Treatment in Coronary Heart Disease : Adverse Effects of Type D Personality and Younger Age on 5-Year Prognosis and Quality of Life Circulation, August 8, 2000; 102(6): 630 - 635. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Other Articles Noted Evid. Based Nurs., October 1, 1999; 2(4): 105 - 112. [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Rozanski, J. A. Blumenthal, and J. Kaplan Impact of Psychological Factors on the Pathogenesis of Cardiovascular Disease and Implications for Therapy Circulation, April 27, 1999; 99(16): 2192 - 2217. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | SUBSCRIPTIONS | CURRENT ISSUE | PAST ISSUES | CARDIOSOURCE | SEARCH | HELP | FEEDBACK |
