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A population survey of ischaemic heart disease and minor psychiatric disorder in men

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

S. A. Stansfeld*
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, University College and Middlesex Hospital School of Medicine; MRC Epidemiology Unit (South Wales), Penarth
D. S. Sharp
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, University College and Middlesex Hospital School of Medicine; MRC Epidemiology Unit (South Wales), Penarth
J. E. J. Gallacher
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, University College and Middlesex Hospital School of Medicine; MRC Epidemiology Unit (South Wales), Penarth
J. W. G. Yarnell
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, University College and Middlesex Hospital School of Medicine; MRC Epidemiology Unit (South Wales), Penarth
*
1 Address for correspondence: Dr S. A. Stansfeld, Academic Department of Psychiatry, University College and Middlesex Hospital, School of Medicine, Wolfson Building, Riding House Street, London W1N 8AA.

Synopsis

Associations between ischaemic heart disease and psychiatric morbidity in hospital recruited samples may be confounded by differential referral of patients with co-morbidity. Associations of angina, past history of myocardial infarction, blood pressure, and electrocardiographic evidence of ischaemia with psychiatric disorder can best be examined in community samples as reported here in 2204 middle-aged men from the Caerphilly Collaborative Study. There was a strong association between past history of myocardial infarction, non-specific chest pain, Angina Grade II and psychiatric disorder measured by the 30-item General Health Questionnaire. Electrocardiographic evidence of ischaemia alone was not significantly associated with psychiatric disorder. It is suggested that non-specific chest pain is a symptom of psychiatric disorder; conversely in severe angina psychiatric disorder is secondary to the pain, restricted activity and threat to life which angina implies.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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