Type A behaviour, life events & myocardial infarction.

Fifty patients of myocardial infarction and 50 normal controls were studied to find out the relationship of Type A behaviour and stressful life events with myocardial infarction and its sequelae. Type A behaviour was detected in 72 per cent of patients as compared to 16 per cent in control group. Among the different components of Type A behaviour, Factor S (measuring speed and impatience) was found to be significantly higher in the study group. Patients with myocardial infarction also scored significantly high on mean frequency and stress scores on total life events as well as on various subgroups of life events. The mean anxiety and depression scores (as measured on Hamilton's anxiety rating scale and Beck's depression inventory respectively) in patients also showed statistically significant improvement with the passage of time.