Life events and adjustment following myocardial infarction: a longitudinal study

This study examines the implications of both pre-Myocardial Infarction (MI) and post-MI life events on the severity of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomatology.

116 MI patients were examined twice. At Time 1, within a week of the MI, severity of ASD and pre-MI life events were assessed, and medical measures were obtained from patients' hospital records. At Time 2, seven months later, severity of PTSD and post-MI life events were assessed.

Although pre-MI life events were associated with both ASD and PTSD symptom severity, the relation between these events and PTSD was mediated by ASD. Post MI stressful life events made an independent contribution to PTSD severity.

These findings emphasize the fact that traumatic events do not occur in isolation and that their emotional impact is related to other events that occur both before and after.