Psychological distress and hypertension control

Ninety-nine hypertensive patients who had been on antihypertensive therapies for at least six months because of diastolic blood pressure of 105 mg Hg or more were interviewed immediately after seeing their physicians. A four-item scale was used to separate those exhibiting the highest amount of psychological distress (18 patients) from the remainder of the group (81 patients). Patients exhibiting the greatest amount of psychological distress had smaller reductions in diastolic blood pressures and were more likely to have resistant hypertension (diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 100 mm Hg) at the next follow-up visit. This study suggests that a relationship exists between psychologic distress and hypertension control. Possibilities for future research are discussed.