[Psychological status of hypertensive patients consuming higher amounts of table salt]

To estimate a possible relationship of neurotic personality disorders to increased dietary salt intake.

Two hundred and thirty patients with essential hypertension were examined. Salt taste sensitivity threshold and daily urinary sodium excretion were determined; the psychological status of the patients was rated by the Mini-Mental State Examination questionnaire; their attitude towards to disease was assessed by the Bekhterev Institute personality questionnaire, the severity of depression was evaluated by the Beck depression inventory.

The hypertensive patients consuming excessive amounts of salt have been ascertained to complain of cardiovascular and neurotic disorders more frequently; their disease is accompanied by frequently evolving hypertensive crises. Anxiety and tension are prevalent in their psychological status. Almost 50% of the patients have depression. A harmonious disease attitude is seen in only a third of cases whereas the neurasthenic and anxious types play a dominant role.

The patients taking higher salt amounts are observed to seek medical advice on the one hand and to show a predominance of neurasthenic and anxious disease attitudes with a tendency towards incompliance on the other. The findings show it necessary to notify hypertensive patients during their examination and management.