Components of Type A behavior and the first-year prognosis of a myocardial infarction

This study examined prospectively the role of Type A behavior and its subcomponents in the first-year prognosis of myocardial infarction (MI). Anger expression, irritability, and cynicism were assessed as traits related to the hostility component of the construct. The sample comprised 92 patients, less than 65 yr old, who survived the acute phase of their first MI. Psychological data was collected by self-report questionnaires during the initial hospital stay. Type A behavior was measured by the Jenkins Activity Survey and by the Finnish Type A Scale. Factors were controlled for age, sex, social status, and the MI severity. The results showed that patient who had a reinfarction or died during the first year reported more irritability and experienced anger more often than patients surviving without any complications. From the standard subcomponents only the Speed-Impatience factor of the JAS predicted poor prognosis. Our results indicated that the global Type A scores were not associated with the prognosis of MI.