The association between spouse-reported Type A behaviour pattern and coronary heart disease

Area of Science:

• Psychological Medicine
• Cardiology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Type A behavior pattern is associated with cardiovascular disease.
• Validated instruments are needed to assess Type A behavior in clinical populations.
• Previous research suggests a link between Type A traits and heart disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To further validate the Spouse-Report Type A Behaviour Pattern Questionnaire.
• To assess the questionnaire's ability to discriminate between cardiac patients and healthy controls.
• To explore the relationship between Type A scores and coronary heart disease severity.

Main Methods:

• A case-controlled study design was employed.
• 61 cardiac patients and 61 community controls participated.
• The Spouse-Report Type A Behaviour Pattern Questionnaire was administered.

Main Results:

• The questionnaire demonstrated statistical discrimination between cardiac patients and controls on the anger/hostility subscale and total Type A score.
• No significant relationship was found between Type A score and coronary heart disease severity.
• The findings support the questionnaire's utility in identifying Type A behavior relevant to cardiac health.

Conclusions:

• The Spouse-Report Type A Behaviour Pattern Questionnaire is a valid tool for assessing Type A behavior in individuals with coronary heart disease.
• Anger/hostility, a component of Type A behavior, is statistically associated with coronary heart disease.
• Further research is needed to understand the complex relationship between Type A behavior patterns and cardiovascular disease progression.