ABSTRACT
The goal in developing the Somatic Response Survey was to have a psychometrically sound, self-report instrument which could be used to assess patterns of normal physical responses during typical stressful situations. For a variety of reasons existing instruments were inappropriate for our goals. Three separate studies, involving 1623 students from 6 colleges, were conducted for data reduction, validation, and standardization of the Somatic Response Survey. Factor analyses indicated four meaningful factors: GastroIntestinal, MusculoSkeletal, Temperature-Sweating, and Cardio-Respiratory. The factors collectively account for 91% of the variance and possess satisfactory internal consistency. The application of the Somatic Response Survey in both research and clinical settings is discussed.
Subject(s)
Arousal , Personality Inventory/statistics & numerical data , Somatoform Disorders/psychology , Stress, Psychological/complications , Adolescent , Adult , Dental Anxiety/diagnosis , Dental Anxiety/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Psychometrics , Social Environment , Somatoform Disorders/diagnosisSubject(s)
Angina Pectoris/etiology , Chest Pain/diagnosis , Coronary Disease/diagnosis , Psychological Tests , Angina Pectoris/diagnosis , Angina Pectoris/psychology , Chest Pain/psychology , Coronary Disease/complications , Coronary Disease/psychology , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries (NCA) score higher on measures of neuroticism than patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This relationship, coupled with findings linking mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and anxiety disorders, led us to examine prospectively the possibility that a greater incidence of MVP among NCA patients accounts for their elevated neuroticism scores. One-hundred-forty-four patients completed psychological tests and a structured interview prior to cardiac catheterization. Forty-one of the 144 patients (28%) had normal coronary arteries. Within the NCA group 29 percent had MVP; within the CAD group only 13 percent had MVP. Despite the significant difference between NCA and CAD groups on measures of neuroticism, there were no differences as a function of MVP status, nor was there an interaction of MVP and coronary arterial status. These findings support the case for an association between NCA and neuroticism independent of the presence or absence of MVP.
Subject(s)
Angina Pectoris/psychology , Chest Pain/psychology , Coronary Artery Disease/psychology , Mitral Valve Prolapse/psychology , Neurotic Disorders/psychology , Sick Role , Somatoform Disorders/psychology , Angina Pectoris/diagnosis , Chest Pain/diagnosis , Coronary Artery Disease/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mitral Valve Prolapse/diagnosis , Neurotic Disorders/diagnosis , Personality Inventory , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Somatoform Disorders/diagnosisABSTRACT
As many as 30% of patients with chest pain symptoms who are referred for arteriography are found to have normal coronary arteries. Research has shown that patients with anginal symptoms and normal coronary arteries score higher on neuroticism measurements (anxiety, depression and somatic concerns) at the time of catheterization than patients with anginal symptoms who have coronary artery disease. Research examining the cardiac course of chest pain patients with normal coronary arteries indicates that this is a nonprogressive disorder. Although follow-up studies of these patients report continued chest pain and diminished physical activity, these studies have ignored the psychologic status of the patients. Thus, it is not known whether their higher neuroticism scores at the time of catheterization persist following angiography or whether such elevated indexes of neuroticism are transient phenomena associated with precatheterization anticipatory stress. The present study examined 48 Veterans Administration Medical Center patients: 24 with anginal symptoms and normal coronary arteries and 24 with documented coronary artery disease. The patients completed a structured clinical interview and a set of psychologic inventories on the day before catheterization and 1 year later. The findings established continued high neuroticism scores among patients with anginal symptoms only and supported the findings of other investigators regarding continuing chest pain and restricted physical activity. The knowledge alone of benign coronary artery status resulted in virtually no change in the psychosocial status of these patients. Alternative treatment methods are discussed.
