Tests of neuroticism were given to a random sample of 167 individuals from a geographically defined population, whose blood pressures had been measured under standard conditions. No significant correlation was found between blood pressure and a combined test score for neuroticism except in the 41-50 age group. In this group there was a significant correlation between systolic blood pressure and the combined test score, but the numbers were small and the correlation could have been fortuitous.A group of 56 out-patient neurotics made significantly higher scores on the combine measure than did the random sample. A group of 43 out-patients with diastolic blood pressures of more than IOO mm Hg (in whom secondary hypertension was not suspected) also made significantly higher scores than the random sample. Since, in most age groups, the correlation between blood pressure and neuroticism was low, it is possible that the data could have resulted from selection of patients, probably by the general practitioner. Such selection could have had the effect of presenting to the hospital only those hypertensives who also had high neuroticism scores.
Summary. Anxiety levels were studied in 176 women with raised serum α‐fetoprotein levels at 16–18 weeks gestation, at the time they attended a central assessment clinic, and again 2–3 weeks later in those not found to have a fetus with a neural‐tube defect. Methods of imparting information about the serum screening tests and the manner in which a normal amniotic fluid result was conveyed to the patient were also studied. Overall, women attending the clinic for further assessment were extremely anxious, irrespective of the source of their information. Anxiety scores 2–3 weeks after testing were greatly influenced by whether the patient had been given a definite normal result or whether she was told to assume that the result was normal if she did not hear from the clinic. Patients who, after reassessment, did not require amniocentesis had some residual anxiety in spite of verbal reassurance.
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