Features of psychological status in acute myocardial infarction in women and men

Changes in psychological status undoubtedly have a great impact on the development and course of myocardial infarction (MI). 

Objective - to study changes in the psychological status in women with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in comparison with male patients and the reflection of these changes on the quality of life. 

Materials and methods. A single-stage observational study was performed in the city hospitals of Tver. 120 women with AMI aged 36-74 years and 50 men with AMI aged 37-72 were examined. The main group (women with AMI) was divided into two subgroups: the first - patients under 60 years of age, the second - 60 years and older. The study of psychological characteristics of the individual was carried out using the abbreviated multifactor questionnaire for personality research (the so called “Mini-Mult” or “SMOL”), the personality questionnaire of the Bekhterev Institute (the so called “LOBI”), and the methodology for assessing the quality of life of a patient (QOL) according to V.P. Zaitsev. 

Results. In women aged 60 years and older, an increase in the profile of pitches on all scales was detected. The most noticeable increase in indicators was observed on the scales of the neurotic triad (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) and the 6th Mini-Mult scale. Analysis of the LOBI test revealed that the level of anxiety, hypochondriac, sensitive, neurasthenic, dysphoric and melancholic types of attitude to the disease prevailed in women, with the greatest severity of changes in the group of women under 60 years of age. In the block of interpsychic orientation, the most significant increase was in the sensitive type of attitude to the disease, which prevailed in both groups of women compared to men. The total indicator of "quality of life" was reduced in all the examined groups, and this decrease was most pronounced in older women. 

Conclusion. Women with AMI have more pronounced changes in their personal and emotional status than men. This is manifested in an increase in hypochondriac, depressive, emotionally labile symptoms; anxiety, hypochondriac, neurasthenic types of response to the disease and a decrease in the "quality of life".

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