Abstract
To investigate the characteristics of Japanese patients with coronary heart disease, we employed a psychosomatic approach by using Egogram, CMI and SDS on 83 patients with angina pectoris in relation to the number of risk factors and coronary artery lesions. Patients were classified into three groups of atherosclerotic heart disease (ASHD), vasospastic angina (VSA) and atypical chest pain syndrome (ACP) according to the findings of coronary arteriography. Extremely low levels of FC (Free Child) and high levels of NP (Nurturing Parent) observed in the ASHD group suggests over-adaptation could be a characteristic of the patients with ASHD. Over-adaptation Idex (NP/CP+AC/FC)-devised from the revised Egogram by lwaiIshikawa-demonstrated the greatest value in the group of ASHD. The number of coronary artery lesions correlated marvelously with Over-adaptation Index compared to risk factors. The higher values of hysterics and depression scored by CMI and SDS were recognized in the group of ACP. More than one third of patients in ACP scored over 50 by SDS. Our results indicate as follows : 1) The involvement of the characteristics of over-adaptation could be one of the coronary risk factors in Japan. 2) Masked depression might be found in the patients with atypical chest pain syndrome. 3) The application of Over-adaptation Index could provide productive information to the study of coronary heart disease.
