Abstract
Recently type A behavior pattern as the coronary-prone behavior pattern by Friedman and Rosenman has come under revaluation. Hostility, one of traditional type A behavior components, is reviewed as the most closely related factor with coronary heart disease. However, in Japan, several studies reported on lower hostility and more workaholic, hard driving tendencies in type A behavior (called Japanese type A behavior pattern) . From the standpoint of organ choice, the author attempted to examine clinical studies about the relationship between Japanese type A behavior pattern and coronary heart disease. In connection with type A behavior formation, the relation between type A characteristics and parental child-rearing attitudes has a value to pay attention. Anxiety is the most common psychological factor that provokes type A behavior manifestation. Usually type A behavior modification is difficult in a case of anxiety-induced type A behavior, unless cognitive approach (to reduce patient's anxiety based on malcognition) is used. As to depressive states, depression-related personality resembles Japanese type A behavior pattern, and as a result of over work caused by workaholic tendency, physical and psychological exhaustion connects with reactive depression. Severe depressive state sometimes appears just before the onset of myocardial infarction. Type A behavior patients are supposed to have cardiovascular hypersusceptibility of the sympathetic adrenal medullary system. Beta-blocker trial on type A hypertensives suggests a possibility of type A modification by β-blockers. From these findings about organ choice of type A behavior pattern and coronary heart disease, some useful suggestions were obtained for prevention against coronary heart disease.
