The Role of Attitude to the Disease in Cardiac Patients Undergoing Vital Threat in the Formation of the Prediction of their Mental Adaptation to Post-hospital Period ²²⁴²

In the current study, the authors evaluated the role of relationship to disease in cardiac patients undergoing vital threat in the formation of the prediction of their mental adaptation in the distant post-hospital period. Longitudinal study (in-hospital and one year after discharge) included two groups: patients with urgent cardiac status (N=47, 36 men, 11 women, age 34 to 66 years) and patients with atrial arrhythmias, passing minimally invasive surgery (N=41, 22 men, 19 women, age 41 to 69 years). In-hospital stage used interviews and tests, questionnaires, and post-hospital stage was conducted using a telephone interview. We found that patients with a history of life-threatening cardiac condition, are less concerned about the disease than patients expecting to be relatively safe after minimally invasive surgery. In the forecast of the emotional status of patients, the severity of anxiety and disturbance of interpersonal relationships in the hospital period play an important role. Predictor of adherence to medical recommendations for men is a high disease concern, and in women – greater emotional stability.

Keywords: mental adaptation, vital threat, forecast, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias, related to the disease, internal picture of the disease, personality

Column: Clinical Psychology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psyedu.2014060414