Predictive value of psychosocial profiles following aclte myocardial infarction

Psychosocial profiles were done prospectively on 54 males and three females in addition to hemodynamics and non-invasive studies; the average age at admission was 44 years. The mean study time for 45 survivors was two years and three months and was seven months for 12 non-survivors. Thirty potential psychosocial problems were investigated during coronary care unit stay, and at three months, six months, and one year. Four problems previously shown to have prognostic significance were re-examined. Depression and pessimism occurred more frequently in non-survivors (α = .05). Patients with maladaptive family relationships post-admission were more likely to die (66 percent), than those with adaptive relationships (15 percent) (α = .05). Patients with poor social adaptation prior to admission had significantly more psychosocial problems during follow-up (α = .05). However, this group had no more deaths than the total population. The type and number of psychosocial problems of survivors and non-survivors of acute myocardial infarction have predictive prognostic value.