Psychosocial factors in patients with noncardiac chest pain.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to explore some psychosocial factors that distinguished individuals with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) from those without NCCP, and whether these psychosocial factors were associated with anxiety and depression that are co-morbid factors of NCCP.


METHODS
A matched case-control design was adopted to compare differences in psychosocial factors among a target group of patients with NCCP (N = 70), a pain control group of patients with rheumatism (N = 70), and a community control group of healthy individuals (N = 70).


RESULTS
Compared with subjects from the two control groups, NCCP patients tended to monitor more, use more problem-focused coping, display a coping pattern with a poorer strategy-situation fit, and receive less emotional support in times of stress. Moreover, monitoring perceptual style and problem-focused coping were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. Coping pattern with a strategy-situation fit and emotional support were related to lower levels of anxiety and depression.


CONCLUSIONS
The present new findings suggest that monitoring perceptual style and inflexible coping style are risk factors that enhance one's vulnerability to NCCP. Emotional support may be a resource factor that reduces one's susceptibility to NCCP.
Cheng
Cecilia
C
Division of Social Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong. c.cheng@ust.hk
Wong
Wai-man
WM
Lai
Kam-chuen
KC
Wong
Benjamin Chun-yu
BC
Hu
Wayne H C
WH
Hui
Wai-mo
WM
Lam
Shiu-kum
SK
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology