PSYCHOLOGICAL PATTERNS IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY HEART-DISEASE, CHRONIC PAIN AND RESPIRATORY DISORDER

Patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), chronic pain and respirato ry disorder were investigated for different patterns of psychological factors. Several psychological factors were measured: depression (usin g Beck's 'BDI'), anxiety (using Spielberger's 'STAI'), anger (Spielber ger's 'AX'), and cynicism (Greenglass & Julkunen's 'CD'). The special psychological pattern in patients with CHD was characterized by an inc rease in suppressed anger, overall experienced anger, and cynicism. Pa tients with chronic pain did not show any comparable pattern of elevat ed psychological factors. The pattern in patients with respiratory dis order was characterized by increased cynicism and, in women, also clin ical depression.