title: Mitral valve prolapse and neuroticism in chest pain patients with normal and diseased coronary arteries.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Rhode Island College, Providence.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McCroskery
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Malloy
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Lantinga
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Sprafkin
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*