Behavioral risk factors and coronary heart disease.
After a historical review, three clusters of social psychological variables are discussed: (1) socioeconomic factors and social disorganization; (2) sustained, intensely disturbing emotions, and (3) behavioral risk factors characterized by the hard-driving, type A coronary-prone behavior pattern. Empirical evidence from the bulk of research on various aspects of these risk factors suggests that the three clusters have a significant bearing on the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease. Reduction of behavioral risk factors should concentrate on three interventions: (1) reducing the type A pattern; (2) treating emotional drain and exhaustion, and (3) treating sustained episodes of interpersonal conflict.
D000328:Adult; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000150:complications; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012306:Risk; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D014586:USSR; D014481:United States