Type A behaviour pattern: Specific coronary risk factor or general disease‐prone condition?*

Abstract

While the association between Type A behaviour pattern and coronary heart disease (CHD) has been abundantly investigated, the question of the specificity of this association remains virtually unexplored. The present study addressed this question by examining, in a sample of 1949 male and female adults, the relationship between JAS Type A measurement and self-reported diseases (i.e. CHD, scarlatina, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, diseases of the liver, diseases of the gall-bladder, thyroid troubles, tuberculosis, peptic ulcer, renal disease, hypertension and diabetes). Type A subjects were found to report not only more CHD, but also more peptic ulcers, thyroid problems, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Globally, more Type A than Type B subjects reported having been ill, and the average number of reported diseases per person was higher among Type As than among Type Bs. These results were obtained in spite of the fact that Type A subjects in this study were markedly younger than Type Bs, and in spite of the empirically based reputation of the former to be symptom deniers rather than symptom reporters. Overall, the data supported the view that Type A behaviour pattern is a general disease-prone condition rather than merely a specific coronary risk factor.

Does type D personality affect symptom control and quality of life in asthma patients?

“…, Haynes & Feinleib ), its relations with other chronic diseases, such as asthma, liver diseases, tuberculosis, and kidney disease, have been explored (Rime et al . ).…”

Psychosocial factors and chronic fatigue syndrome

“…The Type A behaviour pattern, manifested as extreme achievement striving, competitiveness, time urgency, hostility and hard driving behaviour has long been associated with the risk of coronary heart disease (Rosenman et al 1975;Haynes et al 1980;Manuck et al 1986), although recent research suggests that specific components may be more harmful than the overall behaviour pattern (Booth-Kewley & Friedman, 1987;Dembroski & Costa, 1987). There is also some evidence that Type A behaviour may be linked with a range of other physical illnesses (Rime et al 1989).…”

Psychological Stress, Neuroimmunomodulation, and Susceptibility to Infectious Diseases in Animals and Man: A Review

“…Many authors have investigated the personality characteristics of tubercular patients [130][131][132][133][134] with partially discordant results. The study of Sparer [ 133] showed, for example, that infection was more frequent in depressed personalities, and Dumarest [135] also maintained that, in his clinical experi- ence, 'les joyeux guérissent toujours'.…”