Is the 'clinic-home blood pressure difference' associated with psychological distress? A primary care-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is an association between the 'clinic-home blood pressure difference' (CHBPD) and psychological distress in a sample not selected without regard to blood pressure and hypertension status.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study.


METHODS
An academic family medicine department in Toronto, Canada.


METHODS
Consecutive attenders (n = 214) of the primary care facility. Subjects aged less than 16 years and those being administered psychotropic or blood pressure-lowering agents were excluded.


METHODS
The CHBPD was calculated from clinic blood pressure readings and self-measurements by subjects at home; psychological distress was measured by the 30-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ).


RESULTS
No significant association between the CHBPD and psychological distress could be shown for systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The same applied to GHQ subdomains and the CHBPD modelled on several independent variables by multiple linear regression analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
The results from this study, using a large sample drawn from a community, support the view that the CHBPD is not related to anxiety, depression and other forms of psychological distress, but rather is a reaction specific to the clinic setting itself.
Donner-Banzhoff
N
N
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, University of Toronto, North York, Canada.
Chan
Y
Y
Szalai
J P
JP
Hilditch
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012648:Self Care; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires