PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOM PROFILES IN PATIENTS WITH CHEST PAIN

Five-hundred and thirty-two patients with ischaemic-like chest pain re ferred for symptom-limited exercise thallium myocardial perfusion stud ies, were assessed on a range of psychosocial measures. Three groups o f patients were identified on the basis of their perfusion studies: (1 ) normal thallium perfusion; (2) current myocardial ischaemia; and (3) past myocardial infarction (but no current ischaemia). There were no significant psychological differences between these groups on a wide r ange of measures which included depression, state and trait anxiety, T ype A behaviour, personality, suppression of affect, locus of control, alexythymia, and hypochondriasis. Significant differences were identi fied, however, on measures of anger and coping style. Subjects with no current ischaemia (normal thallium perfusion and those with past myoc ardial infarction) had higher scores on 'immature coping' and 'anger i n', than subjects with current myocardial ischaemia. These findings ar e discussed in the light of other published research.