Facial Emotion Expression and the Inducibility of Myocardial Ischemia During Cardiac Stress Testing

The Role of Psychological Background Factors

Bibliographic Data

ID19306705
AuthorsMaria T Bekendam (Elisabeth-TweeSteden Ziekenhuis), Paula Mc Mommersteeg (0000-0002-8458-866X, Kopin Corporation (United States), corresponding author), Paula M C Mommersteeg, Ilse A C Vermeltfoort (Kopin Corporation (United States)), Jos W Widdershoven (Kopin Corporation (United States)), Willem J Kop (0000-0003-3141-4815, Kopin Corporation (United States))
Year2022
Volume84
Issue5
Pages588-596
Publication date2022-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychosomatic Medicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-3174 • E-ISSN: 1534-7796
PublisherOvid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1097/psy.0000000000001085
PMID35420591
OpenAlexW4223976938
LanguageEN
References cited58

OBJECTIVE: Negative emotional states, such as anger and anxiety, are associated with the onset of myocardial infarction and other acute clinical manifestations of ischemic heart disease. The likelihood of experiencing these short-term negative emotions has been associated with long-term psychological background factors such as depression, generalized anxiety, and personality factors. We examined the association of acute emotional states preceding cardiac stress testing (CST) with inducibility of myocardial ischemia and to what extent psychological background factors account for this association. METHODS: Emotional states were assessed in patients undergoing CST (n = 210; mean [standard deviation] age = 66.9 [8.2] years); 91 (43%) women) using self-report measures and video recordings of facial emotion expression. Video recordings were analyzed for expressed anxiety, anger, sadness, and happiness before CST. Psychological background factors were assessed with validated questionnaires. Single-photon emission computed tomography was used to evaluate inducibility of ischemia. RESULTS: Ischemia occurred in 72 patients (34%). Emotional states were not associated with subsequent inducibility of ischemia during CST (odds ratio between 0.93 and 1.04; p values > .50). Psychological background factors were also not associated with ischemia (odds ratio between 0.96 and 1.06 per scale unit; p values > .20) and did not account for the associations of emotional states with ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: Emotional states immediately before CST and psychological background factors were not associated with the inducibility of ischemia. These findings indicate that the well-documented association between negative emotions with acute clinical manifestations of ischemic heart disease requires a different explanation than a reduced threshold for inducible ischemia

Association (psychology) · Disease · Emotion recognition · Emotional stress · Facial expression · Ischemia · Myocardial infarction · Myocardial ischemia · Negative emotion · Psychological stress · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Cardiac Health and Mental Health · Music Therapy and Health

Tools

Open DOI