Negative emotions in cardiovascular disorder: A critical analysis

Authors

  • Bonifacio Sandín

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5944/rppc.vol.7.num.1.2002.3918

Keywords:

Anxiety, depression, hostility, negative emotion, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stress

Abstract

This study briefly reviews the literature on relationship between negative emotions and coronary heart disease (CHD). Numerous longitudinal and retrospective studies have found that hostility and symptoms or syndromes of anxiety and depression are positively related to the onset of CHD or to outcomes after CHD is manifest. Depression has been shown to be clearly related to morbidity and mortality after CHD, independent of disease severity and other risk factors. Evidence for a role of depression in the onset of CHD is quite mixed, although the “vital exhaustion” component could be relevant. Evidence that anxiety is involved in the onset of CHD as well as in outcomes after CHD is preliminary but strong. Evidence for an association between hostility and CHD is limited but suggestive. Hostility is not reliably related to morbidity or mortality after CHD. In addition, depression (and/or anxiety) after myocardial infarction appear to be powerfully related to later overall quality of life among survivors. Disregard of relationships between the three emotions may explain some unresolved issues and null findings in the research on negative emotions and cardiovascular disorder.

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Published

2002-01-01

How to Cite

Sandín, B. (2002). Negative emotions in cardiovascular disorder: A critical analysis. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Psychology   , 7(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.5944/rppc.vol.7.num.1.2002.3918

Issue

Section

Review articles