Can myocardial infarction induce positive changes in family relationships?

Eighty-four male patients with a mean age of 56.4 years (range 34 to 65 years) were subjected to a semi-structured interview 12-21 weeks after acute myocardial infarction in order to elucidate possible positive changes in family or spouse relationships induced by or following on from the disease. There were appreciable positive alterations in the love and caring domains and in communication, especially in those patients (one third of the total) who considered their total life situation to be improved after the myocardial infarction. A majority of the patients judged their family's adaptation to the myocardial infarction as good. The authors argue that it is important to discover, and reinforce, possible positive changes within the family after a myocardial infarction in one of its members and not merely to focus on negative effects.