IMPACT OF MONOTHERAPY WITH NIFEDIPINE OR HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES AND LIFE-STYLE OF HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

The study comprised 25 males with Stages I-II hypertensive disease who se age was 35 to 60 years and diastolic blood pressure was 96-114 mm H g. After 4-week administration of placebo, two groups of treatment wer e randomized: (1) nifedipine (corinfar), 15-80 mg daily, and (2) hydro chlorothiazide (triampur), 25-100 mg daily, for 12 weeks with subseque nt crossover: between therapy course, the patients received placebo du ring 4 weeks. The psychological examination was performed before the p atients' inclusion into the study, at the end of placebo use, 4 and 12 weeks after monotherapy with one of the active drug, by using the ''L ifestyle'' questionnaire, SMOL and HPPQ. The study showed that a cours e of therapy with the calcium antagonist nifedipine produced a benefic ial effect on the mental status and lifestyle in patients with hyperte nsive disease, by promoting the improvement of relations between the p atients and all those present. Hydrochlothiazide monotherapy deteriora ted the lifestyle in patients by restricting smoking and sexual life a nd enhanced neurotization in patients, especially in subjects who had no benefits. It has been ascertained that the efficacy of antihyperten sive therapy depends on the baseline mental status of hypertensives: h igher neurotization may be regarded as a predictor of inefficiency of treatment.