Personal traits and the physical, psychiatric and social state of patients one year after a myocardial infarction

Psychological & social factors have been shown to relate to the rehabilitation of patients with a myocardial infarction (MI). An investigation was made to identify: (1) personality differences between MI patients, normal subjects, & patients from a gastrointestinal unit; & (2) personality differences within the group of MI patients which could be linked to physical, psychiatric, & social factors. Of a sample of 115 men with MI, 105 were examined 1 year after their acute episode. Before leaving the follow-up clinic, they were given a copy of the Sixteen Personality Factors Questionnaire (16 PF) to complete. Sixty-five usable forms were returned. Responders did not differ from nonresponders on age, severity of infarction, time spent in the ward, or anxiety level in the hospital. MI patients were distinguished from normals on several of the 16 traits, mostly those forming the introversion-extroversion dimension of personality. 8 Tables. Modified HA.