Psychosomatic medicine
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Psychosomatic medicine · Sep 2005
Comparative StudyDepressive symptoms, coronary heart disease, and overall mortality in the Framingham Heart Study.
Although a substantial number of studies have shown that depressive symptoms predict worse cardiac outcome for patients with existing coronary disease, relatively few methodologically rigorous studies have examined the relation of depressive symptoms to coronary disease incidence in individuals initially free of heart disease in the community. ⋯ These findings underscore the importance of further research into the pathogenesis and prevention of excess mortality experienced with depressive symptoms.
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Psychosomatic medicine · Sep 2005
Comparative StudyAlexithymia after traumatic brain injury: its relation to magnetic resonance imaging findings and psychiatric disorders.
People with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were studied to assess the prevalence of alexithymia and its relationship to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and psychiatric disorders. ⋯ Alexithymia is common, along with psychiatric disorders, in patients with TBI. Both of them may reflect dysfunction of the injured brain. In clinical practice, alexithymic features should be taken into consideration in psychosocial rehabilitation after TBI.
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Psychosomatic medicine · Sep 2005
Comparative StudyDomain and facet personality predictors of all-cause mortality among Medicare patients aged 65 to 100.
Our objectives were to test whether Conscientiousness, the other 4 domains of the Five-Factor Model, and their facets predicted mortality in older, frail individuals. ⋯ The effects of Neuroticism and Agreeableness on mortality are inconsistent across previous studies. This study indicates that, in a sample of older, frail participants, high Neuroticism and Agreeableness scores are protective and that more specific effects are primarily the result of the Impulsiveness and Straightforwardness facet scales. The Conscientiousness findings are consistent with those in earlier studies and demonstrate the importance of the Self-Discipline facet.
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Psychosomatic medicine · Jul 2005
Hostility scores are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events in women undergoing coronary angiography: a report from the NHLBI-Sponsored WISE Study.
To evaluate hostility-related personality traits assessed by the Cook Medley Hostility Inventory and to relate these to the occurrence of adverse cardiac events in women with suspected myocardial ischemia. ⋯ In this cohort of women with suspected myocardial ischemia, higher Cook Medley scores reflecting cynicism, hostile affect, and aggressive responding were associated with poorer 3 to 6 year event-free survival and a higher risk of adverse events. After adjusting for risk factors and CAD, the association with risk for adverse events increased.
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Psychosomatic medicine · May 2005
ReviewNonpharmacologic treatments for depression in patients with coronary heart disease.
We review nonpharmacologic treatments for depression in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), including psychological therapies such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT), aerobic exercise, St. John's wort (SJW), essential fatty acids (EFAs), S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe), acupuncture, and chromium picolinate (CP). ⋯ There are few RCTs of patients with clinical depression and CHD, and those that exist have significant methodological limitations. Nonetheless, there is preliminary evidence that nonpharmacologic treatments are effective for cardiac patients with depression. In terms of reducing depression, the most evidence exists for psychological treatments, particularly CBT and IPT. However, there is little evidence that such treatment would also improve CHD risk factors. Aerobic exercise offers more promise to improve both mental and physical health due to its effect on cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes and thus warrants particular attention in future trials.