title: Posttraumatic stress disorder following myocardial infarction: personality, coping, and trauma exposure characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the interrelationship between trauma exposure characteristics of myocardial infarction (MI), MI patients' personality traits, coping strategies, post-MI PTSD, and general psychological distress.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty MI patients were recruited from two general practices. The MI patients were interviewed using a MI experience questionnaire and completed the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS), the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), and the COPE Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neuroticism was directly associated with post-MI PTSD and general psychological distress, while agreeableness did not link to the outcomes directly. Neuroticism influenced MI exposure characteristics which in turn influenced PTSD. Agreeableness affected PTSD and general psychological distress through MI exposure characteristics. Neuroticism influenced problem-focused coping which in turn affected general psychological distress. Agreeableness influenced problem-focused coping which in turn affected PTSD and general psychological distress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients developed PTSD and general psychological distress following MI. Neurotic and antagonistic personality traits combined with patients' subjective experiences of MI and usage of problem-focused coping influenced the severity of outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Science and Public Health, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. man.chung@zu.ac.ae
authors.forename: Man Cheung
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Zoë
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rudd
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000523:psychology; D002605:Character; D005260:Female; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011340:Problem Solving; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology