HYPERTENSION AND EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

1. (1) The hypothesis that prolonged emotional disturbance leads to an irreversible increase in blood pressure was tested by relating the duration of illness experienced by 25 severely depressed patients to their blood pressures when they had recovered after ECT. 2. (2) Allowing for age and sex, the significant correlation found between both duration and number of spells of illness and blood pressure on recovery strongly supported the hypothesis. 3. (3) Similarly, on recovery a hypertensive and normotensive group were significantly differentiated on the two measures of amount of illness, but not on genetic factors or differing treatment. 4. (4) Ratings of anxiety and agitation, but not those of depression, were correlated with blood pressure levels when ill. Patients who showed a fall in diastolic pressure on recovery were significantly more anxious and agitated when referred than those who did not. 5. (5) It is concluded that the physiological effects of prolonged or repeated episodes of emotional disturbance may lead to structural changes that result in hypertension. © 1969.