Prevalence and severity of anxiety, depression and Type A behaviors in angina pectoris |
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Authors: | DONALD F. SMITH,BENT STERNDORFF,GÜ NTHER RØ PCKE,ERIK M. GUSTAVSEN,JØ RN KRØ YER HANSEN |
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Affiliation: | Institute for Basic Research in Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Research Group, Aarhus University Hospital, Psychiatric Hospital, 8240 Risskov, Denmark;Banegaardsplads 20, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark;Aaboulevarden 3, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark;Store Torv 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark;Østergade 30, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark |
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Abstract: | The role of psychological factors in coronary heart disease was examined by administering the Bech Rating Scale (BRS) of mood disorders and the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) for Type A behavior patterns (TABP) to a consecutive sample of angina patients ( N = 94), to a consecutive sample of noncardiac patients ( N = 47), and to a random sample of adults from the general population ( N = 217). Anxiety and depression were both more frequent and more severe in angina patients than in noncardiac patients or in the general population. There was a tendency for certain components of TABP (i. e. speed, impatience, hard-driving and competitive disposition) to be elevated in angina patients, but a similar trend was noted in noncardiac patients. Although no consistent relations were observed between negative emotions and TABP scores in angina patients, their anxiety and depression scores were reliably related to their use of nitroglycerin. The findings concur with previous studies concerning the presence of anxiety and depression in patients with angina pectoris and indicate that such negative emotions are not closely related to Type A personality traits. |
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Keywords: | anxiety depression coronary-prone behavior angina pectoris heart disease ECG nitroglycerin |
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