Mood states and Type A behavior in Japanese male patients with myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND

In Japanese studies, job involvement, e.g., job-centered lifestyle has been thought to be a major component in Type A behavior (TAB) rather than hostility and anger. We examined the influence of TAB including job involvement such as job-centered lifestyle on mood states such as depression following cardiac attack among Japanese male patients with myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODS

After the first attack, the Jenkins Survey Activity was administered to 46 male patients with acute MI. Five years later, 33 patients remained as subjects. The Profile of Mood States was administered to the 33 subjects.

RESULTS

The subjects are prone to unstable mood states compared to healthy controls. The severity of depression was significantly correlated with the global TAB. Of the global TAB, the job involvement was closely associated with depression as well as other mood states such as anxiety and fatigue.

CONCLUSION

TAB, in particular job involvement, may be a predictor for depression following the cardiac attack.