[Psychological characteristics of patients with ischemic heart disease and behavioral risk factor (type A personality)].

Psychological features were examined in 64 coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with type A behavioral risk factor. CHD was diagnosed after all the patients had undergone selective coronary angiography. To study personality traits, traditional psychological methods were used such as MMPI, the Spilberger questionnaire, Jenkins' questionnaire scores. According to the scores of MMPI (5MF, 8 Sc, Osi, F), type A behavior subjects were demonstrated to have lower ratings than type B behavior ones. No differences in anxiety shown by people were found. The findings suggest that Type A persons are inclined to have intrapersonal contacts, socially active, emotionally responsive on the one hand, and exhibit a provoked hostility, on the other hand. This leads to the formation of an emotional conflict which may be a factor causing a long-term emotional stress and predisposing to a more frequent development of CHD.