Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify the psychological stress reaction and psychological stressors in women with ischemic heart disease who were under follow-up treatment on an outpatient basis. The subjects were 75 women in the convalescence/maintenance phase of ischemic heart disease who were under 80 years of age (mean age,64.5 years of age) and who had not undergone cardiac rehabilitation. To clarify factors that might contribute to psychological stress, we examined the PSRS-50R (Psychological Stress Response Scale-50 Items revised), a type A behavior pattern scale, the emotional support network scale, a stressor scale developed by the author, and the patient attributes.
These data indicated that the following psychological stress reactions: myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, long-term treatment, lack of regular occupation, and an annual income under 3 million yen. The analysis also showed that psychological stress reactions were induced by type A behavior pattern, poor emotional support, and stressors. In particular, aging, exercise therapy, and the unknown aspects of illness caused stress reactions such as depression, anxiety, anger, apathy, and despair. The results also showed that health of the family and family responsibilities caused stress reaction hiding. These findings indicated the need for individual intervention in the patient's daily life, environmental management for family support system, and cardiac rehabilitation.
