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Anger and anxiety in borderline hypertension
Insights
Borderline hypertensive individuals with high home blood pressure (BP) reported more intense anger but suppressed its expression more. These psychological differences may contribute to developing established hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Psychological factors like anger and anxiety are studied in relation to blood pressure (BP).
- Average out-of-clinic BP is a stronger predictor of hypertensive complications than clinic BP.
- Understanding psychological contributors to sustained high BP is crucial for hypertension management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate psychological differences between borderline hypertensives with consistently high home BP and those with normal home BP.
- To explore the relationship between anger, anxiety, and blood pressure regulation in borderline hypertension.
Main Methods:
- 33 borderline hypertensive subjects were divided into high home BP and normal home BP groups.
- Psychometric instruments assessed anger and anxiety components (Spielberger's State-Trait Personality Inventory, Anger Expression Scale, State Anger Reaction Scale).
- Blood pressure variability was also analyzed.
Main Results:
- The high home BP group reported greater anger intensity compared to the normal home BP group.
- The high home BP group exhibited greater suppression of anger expression.
- No significant differences in anxiety levels or blood pressure variability were found between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Suppressed anger expression, alongside heightened anger intensity, may characterize borderline hypertensives at higher risk.
- These psychological factors could contribute to sustained hypertension via autonomic arousal.
- Further research is needed to confirm the role of anger suppression in hypertension development.
Abstract:
Psychologic studies of hypertension have usually focused on the relationship of anger and anxiety to clinic or laboratory blood pressure (BP). Yet, average blood pressure outside of the clinic has proven to be a more important predictor of hypertensive complications. In this study, we have isolated two groups of borderline hypertensives--one group that maintained high blood pressure outside of the clinic and another whose average BP returned to normal at home. All 33 subjects were given psychometric instruments for measuring various components of anger and anxiety: Spielberger's State-Trait Personality Inventory, the Anger Expression Scale, and the State Anger Reaction Scale. The high home BP group reported greater intensity of anger, although they suppressed their expression of anger to a greater extent. The groups did not differ in anxiety. Also, blood pressure variability was not different between the two groups. It is suggested that the psychologic differences found in the group of higher-risk borderline hypertensives may, through autonomic arousal, contribute to the later development of established hypertension.