ANGER EXPRESSION CORRELATES WITH PLATELET-AGGREGATION

Potential relationships between increased platelet aggregability and s uch psychological characteristics as hostility and anger were investig ated as part of a larger intervention study investigating the potentia l efficacy of stress-reduction treatments. Participants performed 6-mi nute mental arithmetic tests under time pressure. Blood was sampled du ring the first minute of the task and whole blood platelet aggregation was measured in an aggregometer using collagen and ADP. To assess ang er and hostility, the authors used Spielberger's State-Trait Anger and Anger Expression scales together with the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale . The authors found positive correlations between collagen-induced pla telet aggregation and outwardly expressed anger, as measured by the An ger Expression Scale. The findings suggested that modes of anger expre ssion may be associated with increased platelet aggregation. If confir med by future studies, this finding could provide a mechanism for the putative connection between anger/hostility and coronary heart disease .