Psychological and physiopathological study on coronary patients.

Abstract

In this paper the AA have tried to define the relationship between psychopathological characteristics or symptoms and angina attacks in coronary patients. The research plan was agreed upon and carried out as a collaborative program between psychiatrists and internists with the goal of reaching a more comprehensive approach to the psychosomatic patient. In 20 patients suffering from nocturnal angina attacks the polygraphic sleep recording was performed; 10 of them received psychodiagnostic examination (MMPI). In 8 cases during sleep recordings hemodynamic monitoring was also performed. The MMPI data were compared with 82 other individuals who had myocardial infarction (56 ss) and diurnal angina (26 ss) and 34 control subjects without cardiac disease. The results show that the sleep patterns were strongly affected and the most relevant alterations were recorded during the nights with ischemic episodes. No significant correlations were found between ischemic episodes and sleep stages. In no instance did the hemodynamic monitoring show an increase in the parameters related to myocardial oxygen consumption. The psychological data showed that the most severe symptomatology was observed in the nocturnal angina patients where the disease seems to be mostly related to a functional pathogenic mechanism.