[The analysis of type D personality research as a psychosocial risk factor in cardiovascular disease for elders with a chronic disease].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper was to examine the relationship between type D personality and cardiovascular disease, and to suggest future research directions.


METHODS
A literature search was conducted from the following nine databases: 1) MEDLINE, 2) CINAHL, 3) Pubmed Unrestricted, 4) PsycINFO, 5) KISS, 6) RICHIS, 7) RISS4U, and 8) Nanet. The combinations of the words, "type D personality", "personality", "heart", "cardiovascular", and "coronary" were used for keyword searches to find relevant articles. Twenty eight studies were identified.


RESULTS
Type D personality has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with established cardiovascular disease. Type D patients are also at increased risk for impaired quality of life, and seem to benefit less from medical and invasive treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
There is substantial evidence for a relationship between type D personality and clinical outcomes related to cardiovascular disease. Randomized clinical trials are needed to further evaluate the value of controlling type D personality to improve survival and reduce morbidity in patients with cardiovascular disease. Accumulating evidence from this analysis indicates the urgent need to adopt a personality approach in order to optimize the identification of patients at risk for stress related cardiac events.
Song
Eun Kyeung
EK
College Nursing, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Son
Youn Jung
YJ
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological