Sick-role and attitude towards disease and working life two months after a myocardial infarction

Sick-role and attitude towards disease and work two months after a first myocardial infarction (MI) were studied in relation to social, psychological and somatic factors prior to, during and after the MI in 201 consecutive male patients. Questionnaires and a brief interview covered psychological and social data. Somatic data were registered in a standardized medical examination. New concepts were introduced after factor analysis of the psychological variables. Two out of three patients displayed avoidance behaviour. Seventy per cent had restricted their everyday activities. The leisure time was dominated by passivity. Over-protection was frequent. Sick-role behaviour was significantly related to emotional upset, preoccupation with the health and self-reported coronary symptoms while the shortage of relationships to somatic and cardiac factors was notable. The patients attributed the onset of MI to work-related factors. Work dissatisfaction was an aspect of a general negative attitude towards life and was more frequent among patients with emotional symptoms. The psychological care ought to be improved in order to prevent long-term disability.