Short-term fluctuations in anxiety in patients with myocardial infarction

Previous studies have shown that there are fluctuations in anxiety after a heart attack but there is no agreement about the pattern of such fluctuations. Serial measurement of anxiety made on a group of M.I. patients in Edinburgh showed that anxiety is highest on transfer from the Coronary Care Unit to a general ward and lowest prior to discharge. Between those periods anxiety is relatively stable and its level is within normal limits. High anxiety has been shown to be associated with poor rehabilitation outcome and this study demonstrates that the time at which anxiety is measured is important if persistently anxious patients are to be correctly identified and given appropriate rehabilitation.