[The psychological approach in cardiovascular epidemiology]

It is quite generally accepted that a certain personality profile long precedes the first manifestations of coronary disease. However the essential traits and above all their place amongst other risk factors remain controversial. The authors undertook a prospective study involving three male populations grouping 2147 adult subjects. Amongst the questions considered, there was the choice of a simple a quick psychological approach applicable to a population ranging over all cultural levels. The study shows that the Bortner auto-transference scale fulfils all these requirements. Thus a given type of behaviour may be analysed as a risk factor, in the same way as various examinations such a blood pressure or cholesterol level.