Responses to Bortner's scale and the eight basic emotions by patients with acute coronary heart disease at hospital admission and discharge.

Abstract

We examined the prevalence of Type A behavior indicated on Bortner's scale and the Emotion Profiles of Plutchik in 190 patients, 134 men and 56 women (M age = 50 yr., SD = 9) with acute coronary heart disease at hospital admission and discharge. Type A classification was significantly more common for patients with acute coronary heart disease (75.5% versus 65%) than for the control group. Patients with acute coronary heart disease scored lower on Distrust and Dyscontrolled than the control group. Patients with unstable angina had significantly higher mean scores on Bortner's scale than patients with acute myocardial infarction and recurrent myocardial infarction at hospital discharge. Patients with recurrent myocardial infarction scored lower on Distrust and higher on Timid than patients with unstable angina at hospital admission and discharge. This research suggests that Type A behavior and some emotions are associated with acute coronary heart disease. There was a difference in scores on the Emotions Profiles and scores on Type A behavior in relation to type of acute coronary heart disease. The addition of counseling for Type A behavior to standard cardiac counseling was suggested for reduction in scores on Type A behavior.