Psychological patterns in patients with coronary heart disease, chronic pain and respiratory disorder

Patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), chronic pain and respiratory disorder were investigated for different patterns of psychological factors. Several psychological factors were measured: depression (using Beck's 'BDI'), anxiety (using Spielberger's 'STAI'), anger (Spielberger's 'AX'), and cynicism (Greenglass & Julkunen's 'CD'). The special psychological pattern in patients with CHD was characterized by an increase in suppressed anger, overall experienced anger, and cynicism. Patients with chronic pain did not show any comparable pattern of elevated psychological factors. The pattern in patients with respiratory disorder was characterized by increased cynicism and, in women, also clinical depression.