Analysis of aggressiveness and hostility manifestations in the structure of psychoemotional sphere disorders in patients after cardio-surgical intervention

Abstract

We examined 700 patients who were treated at the State Institution "Heart Institute of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine" after undergoing Cardio-Surgical Intervention (CSI) with an artificial circulation procedure. Among the examined patients we identified the following groups: 1) patients with cerebral infarction in the postoperative period, numbering 86 persons, 2) patients with signs of postoperative encephalopathy, numbering 217 persons, 3) patients with postoperative cognitive dysfunction, numbering 504 persons. As a result of study in patients who underwent CSI, the presence of increased levels of aggression and hostility. At the same time, the highest levels were inherent in verbal aggression, the rate of which corresponded to a high level; slightly lower – irritation, the rate of which corresponded to high, closer to elevated levels; even lower – guilt, the rate of which corresponds to an elevated, closer to high, level; negativism, feelings of resentment and suspicion, the indicators of which correspond to a higher level; and the lowest – physical aggression, the rate of which corresponds to an elevated, closer to average, level. The aggression index and the hostility index in patients who underwent CSI corresponded to elevated levels. The presence of ischemic and neurological complications increases the levels of aggression (to a greater extent) and hostility (to a lesser extent). This tendency is most pronounced in patients with postoperative cerebral infarction, slightly less in patients with signs of postoperative encephalopathy, and least in patients with signs of postoperative cognitive dysfunction. The identified patterns should be taken into account when developing treatment-and-rehabilitation and preventive measures for patients who have undergone heart surgery. Keywords: cardiosurgical intervention in the conditions of artificial blood circulation, disturbance of psychoemotional sphere, aggression, hostility.