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Mental Precursors of Myocardial Infarction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

A. Appels*
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Psychology, University of Limburg, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands

Abstract

Both cardiologists and psychiatrists have observed that the onset of myocardial infarction is often preceded by feelings of decreasing energy, general malaise, and minor depression. This paper describes these observations and tries to integrate the findings. It is proposed that the mental state preceding myocardial infarction can be best described as ‘vital exhaustion’.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1990 

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