Henneke Versteeg1, Annelieke M Roest2, Johan Denollet3. 1. Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: h.versteeg@tilburguniversity.edu. 2. University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation (ICPE), Hanzeplein 1, 9173 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.m.roest@umcg.nl. 3. Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.denollet@tilburguniversity.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify the varying courses of anxiety symptoms in the first 18 months after a myocardial infarction (MI) and to examine the importance of personality in determining elevated anxiety. METHODS: Four hundred eighty-six MI patients completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory during hospitalization and at 2-, 12- and 18-months post-MI. At baseline, patients also completed the DS14 Type D personality scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index and Beck Depression Inventory, and clinical and sociodemographic information was collected. RESULTS: Growth mixture modeling analysis identified four anxiety trajectories. The majority of patients reported stable anxiety scores over time, indicative of either persistent high (17%) or low (71%) anxiety. Patients in the other two smaller groups initially reported moderate levels of anxiety that fluctuated during follow-up. Type D personality [odds ratio (OR)=5.34; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.26-12.63], negative affectivity (OR=3.24; 95% CI: 1.29-8.14) and anxiety sensitivity (OR=3.35; 95% CI: 1.69-6.62) were the most prominent determinants of persistent high anxiety, independent of depression, sociodemographic and clinical factors. CONCLUSIONS: The course of anxiety in the first 18 months after MI is relatively stable for the majority of patients. Patients with Type D personality, negative affectivity and anxiety sensitivity are at an increased risk for persisting elevated anxiety and should be identified and offered appropriate treatment.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the varying courses of anxiety symptoms in the first 18 months after a myocardial infarction (MI) and to examine the importance of personality in determining elevated anxiety. METHODS: Four hundred eighty-six MI patients completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory during hospitalization and at 2-, 12- and 18-months post-MI. At baseline, patients also completed the DS14 Type D personality scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index and Beck Depression Inventory, and clinical and sociodemographic information was collected. RESULTS: Growth mixture modeling analysis identified four anxiety trajectories. The majority of patients reported stable anxiety scores over time, indicative of either persistent high (17%) or low (71%) anxiety. Patients in the other two smaller groups initially reported moderate levels of anxiety that fluctuated during follow-up. Type D personality [odds ratio (OR)=5.34; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.26-12.63], negative affectivity (OR=3.24; 95% CI: 1.29-8.14) and anxiety sensitivity (OR=3.35; 95% CI: 1.69-6.62) were the most prominent determinants of persistent high anxiety, independent of depression, sociodemographic and clinical factors. CONCLUSIONS: The course of anxiety in the first 18 months after MI is relatively stable for the majority of patients. Patients with Type D personality, negative affectivity and anxiety sensitivity are at an increased risk for persisting elevated anxiety and should be identified and offered appropriate treatment.
Authors: Wim L Loosman; Rianne W de Jong; Gertrud L G Haverkamp; Tessa O van den Beukel; Friedo W Dekker; Carl E H Siegert; Adriaan Honig Journal: Int J Behav Med Date: 2018-02