Type-D personality: a predictor of quality of life and coronary heart disease

ABSTRACT

The present study examined the association of type - D personality [and its components] with quality of life in cardiac patients compared with healthy people. A sample of 80 patients with myocardial infarction [Ml] and 70 healthy people aged 45-60 years completed the WHO quality of life brief questionnaire and the 14-item type-D personality scale. A significantly higher percentage of the Ml group scored positive for type-D personality compared with healthy individuals [71% versus 33%]. Significantly more Ml patients had low quality of life scores than did healthy individuals [64% versus 20%]. Regression analysis showed that higher scores on type-D personality had a negative impact on quality of life in Ml patients and that the social inhibition component had a greater impact than negative affectivity. Psychological assessment for type-D personality may be helpful in developing health care plans