M. Uuskula, PSYCHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOUNG MALE AND FEMALE SURVIVORS OF MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION, Psychotherapy and psychosomatics, 65(6), 1996, pp. 327-330
Background: The aim of this study was to investigate psychological dif
ferences between young male and female survivors of acute myocardial i
nfarction (MI). Methods: 35 male (mean age 37.3) and 29 female (mean a
ge 38.6) patients with first MI made the study group. Type A behavior,
anxiety, alexithymia construct and vital exhaustion were assessed by
self-reported questionnaires. Results: The results indicate that femal
es suffer considerably more frequently from fatigue and exhaustion in
the prodromal period of MI. Women develop a higher level of cognitive-
worry, subscale score of anxiety; they are more irritable and less abl
e to relax. Conclusions: These gender-related differences in psycholog
ical status should be taken into consideration for the optimal psychos
ocial rehabilitation of young patients with first acute MI.