Mental characteristics associated with “essential” hypertension

Abstract

1. An attempt was made to study the mental features prevalent, in the “essential” type of arterial hypertension. 2. Ten cases were considered, in whom the possible known organic causes of hypertension were ruled out. Cases showing mental pictures which are known to appear with organic brain changes were excluded. 3. A preliminary description reveals: (a) A submissive personality was found, with strong parental attachments, labile emotional reaction and tendencies to depression. (b) Anxiety and inhibited aggression, although present, were not predominant. (c) Overt, aggressive impulses when present were inhibited previous to the onset of the psychosis. (d) The illness was sudden in appearance and characterized by depressive, destructive and paranoid features. 4. Correlation revealed that, in a given individual, the emotional reaction and thought content present at the time of the onset of the psychosis were similar to the emotional reaction and thought content noted when the arterial tension rose. 5. Stress was laid on the need to give definitions of hypertension and descriptions of the technique of the study.