ANGER SUPPRESSION - ITS RELATIONSHIP TO BETA-ADRENERGIC-RECEPTOR SENSITIVITY AND STRESS-INDUCED CHANGES IN BLOOD-PRESSURE

While studies from diverse fields of research suggest a relationship b etween problems expressing anger and cardiovascular illness, few studi es have provided a potential pathophysiological link of such a relatio nship. Forty-five males were classified according to one of three ange r expression categories: those who did not suppress their anger (N = 1 3), those who partially suppressed their anger (N = 19), and those who definitely suppressed their anger (N = 13). For each, we determined l ymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptor function and blood pressure respons iveness to a standardized mathematics stressor. Those subjects who rou tinely suppressed their expression of anger had increased beta-adrener gic receptor sensitivity (P = 0.01) (isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic A MP production) and a greater systolic blood pressure response to the s tressor (P = 0.001). Anger suppression was unrelated to the subject's age, weight, or socioeconomic status. These findings may be germane to prior clinical and epidemiologic observations relating anger expressi on and cardiovascular illness.