Nanette K. Wenger

Emotional Responses of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction to Their Disease

50 consecutive US survivors of acute myocardial infarction, when questioned about their recent stay in the Coronary Case Unit and their current health status, denied being fearful or worried about their disease. This attitude did not differ with sex, race, educational level, marital status, or work status. However, younger patients were more likely to deny fear and feelings of invalidism and dependence than older patients. Differences were noted between the US patient responses and responses of Venezuelan patients to the same questionnaire. US patients generally wanted to learn more about their coronary disease, and Venezuelan patients did not. The difference in these responses may represent two different means of coping with fear of illness and, consequently, two different behavior patterns; or may reflect sociocultural differences in expectations of the pattern of medical care.