Some Psychological Factors in Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract

It was postulated that the efficiency of cardiovascular and coronary adaptation to activity is a function of adequate arousal of the autonomic nervous system. It was hypothesized, therefore, that individuals who habitually exercise more intellectual control will be more prone to disturbance of cardiocoronary homeostasis and eventually to possible ischemic phenomena. Evidence is presented in a pilot study that coronary heart disease patients show a greater degree of rational control than those of a matched comparison group. The coronary patients were more inhibited, both in their behavior, as measured by standard psychological tests, and in their cerebral cortical functioning, as measured by alpha wave frequency, critical frequency of flicker, and reaction time. Evidence is also presented which suggests that at least some of the coronary patients are temperamentally unsuited to the inhibited behavior which they exhibit.