title: Psychosocial correlates of atrial natriuretic peptide: a marker of vascular health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychosocial factors have been associated with cardiovascular outcomes, but few studies have examined the association between psychosocial function and natriuretic peptides.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to determine the predictive value of hostility, anger, and social support in relation to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a marker of vascular health, among middle-aged men.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-one men (mean age = 39.8 years, SD = 4.1) underwent assessments of ANP and completed the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale, the Spielberger State-Trait Anger Scale, and the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher levels of hostility (β = 0.22 [95 % CI 0.04, 0.40], P = 0.032) and trait anger (β = 0.18 [95 % CI 0.01, 0.37], P = 0.044) were associated with greater ANP levels. In contrast, higher perceived social support was also associated with lower ANP levels, (β = -0.19 [95 % CI -0.05, -0.41], P = 0.010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychosocial factors, including hostility, anger, and social support, are associated with varying ANP levels among middle-aged men, independent of cardiovascular and behavioral risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. smith562@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Martti T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Tuomisto
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blumenthal
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sherwood
authors.forename: Lauri
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parkkinen
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kähönen
authors.forename: Ilkka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pörsti
authors.forename: Silja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Majahalme
authors.forename: Väinö
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Turjanmaa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D002784:Cholesterol