AN EXAMINATION OF THE PATIENTS PERSONALITY PROFILES BEFORE ANGIOGRAPHY OR HEART SURGERY

Abstract

Background-Scientists have long been puzzled by the fact that many heart attacks ‎occur in patients who do not have any predisposing factors such as high blood ‎pressure, smoking, and high cholesterol, and they have always wanted to ascertain ‎what causes these heart attacks. The answer, according to some, may lie not merely in ‎physiology but behavior. In the last 30 years, a small group of scientists has held ‎steadfastly to the hypothesis that the way people think, feel, and act as they cope with ‎the daily stresses of life can have a profound and some times deadly- effect on their ‎heart. In this study we wanted to evaluate the patient s personality profile before ‎angiography or heart surgery‏.‏‎<br />‎ Methods-Two hundred and ten patients who needed angiography or heart surgery ‎were selected to complete the following questionnaires - SCL 90 personality test, ‎general knowledge, demographic questionnaire, and surgical questionnaire‏.‏ Results- The personality traits of patients are susceptible to change before ‎angiography and heart surgery, but according to the GSI standard, these changes are ‎limited to the neurotic phase‏.‏‎<br />‎ Conclusion-The presence of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists are useful and the ‎employment of psychotherapy, psychoanalytic techniques, and education of patients ‎can maximize the result of heart surgery as well (Iranian Heart Journal 2003; 4 (4):57-‎‎59).‎