Specific sources and patterns of anxiety in male patients with first myocardial infarction

Abstract

Anxiety was studied on four occasions over one year in 76 men under 66 years of age, who were admitted to hospital with a first acute myocardial infarction. Anxiety was measured by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and by a self-rating questionnaire. Average levels of State and self-rated anxiety fluctuated over the study period with levels peaking after admission, falling at the fifth day, rising at six weeks, and falling to their lowest level at one year. Reported specific sources of anxiety, including the myocardial infarction, return to work, the future and possible complications, ranked highest in hospital and at six weeks post-discharge.

A cross-sectional examination of changes in anxiety early after acute myocardial infarction

“…Anxiety levels were highest within the first 12 hours after admission, decreased during the next 12 hours (12 to 24 hours after admission), and remained steady for the successive 36 hours before increasing 60 to 72 hours after admission. These findings are unique because, unlike previous investigators, 6,8,14,35,45,[53][54][55] we enrolled a large sample with a greater proportion of women and measured anxiety as early as 1.2 hours after admission for AMI.…”

Association of Anxiety and Depression With All‐Cause Mortality in Individuals With Coronary Heart Disease

“…For example, in hospitalized patients following a major event such as MI, estimation of steady‐state levels of anxiety was made difficult by the substantial fluctuation of anxiety during hospitalization following MI. 44–45 Furthermore, anxiety is often measured using self‐report questionnaires that are not designed to be used in elderly hospitalized patients. In addition to failing to differentiate anxiety from symptoms related to physical disorders, such as dizziness, insomnia, and fatigue, some of the commonly used questionnaires may be inferior to other anxiety measures in terms of discriminant and factorial validity 46–47 and may be especially problematic when used to differentiate elderly patients with diagnosed anxiety disorder from nonanxious patients.…”

A randomized controlled trial of in‐hospital nursing support for first time myocardial infarction patients and their partners: effects on anxiety and depression*

“…Correspondence: David R. Thompson, Department of First time MI patients report high levels of anxiety during their stay in hospital and this is followed by a peak in anxiety at about 6 weeks after discharge (Thompson et al 1982(Thompson et al , 1987. Specific worries reported by these patients concern the effect of the MI on return to work, leisure and sexual activities; the receipt of inadequate information about their illness and subsequent recovery; and possible complications and the necessary action required should symptoms occur.…”