TYPE-A BEHAVIOR IN PATIENTS WITH NON-CORONARY CHEST PAIN ADMITTED TO A CORONARY-CARE UNIT

The present study is focused on the behaviour of 23 men admitted to a coronary care unit for suspected acute myocardial infarction and turned out not to suffer from ischaemic heart disease even at a follow-up 2-4 years later (OBS-group). These patients are compared with 34 infarction patients and 43 healthy control subjects. For evaluation of Type-A behaviour a self administered 'Adjective check-list' was used. The mean score from that list was significantly elevated in the OBS-group as compared both with the infarction group (p < 0.02) and the control group (p < 0.001). No difference was obtained between the two latter groups. It is concluded that Type-A behaviour may be a common feature among persons with non-coronary chest pain, admitted to a coronary care unit. © 1979.