Borderline hypertension, daily stress and psychological variables

Abstract

Abstract Borderline hypertensive patients ( N = 33) were studied in order to ascertain if they showed a specific psychological profile and a greater emotional and cardiovascular reactivity than normotensive controls ( N = 21). Borderline hypertensive patients scored significantly higher in type A behaviour (JAS), total hostility (BDI), anxiety, physical symptoms and general psychopathology (GHQ), but did not differ from controls in the frequency and intensity of stressful daily events, the quality and magnitude of emotional response (daily evaluated through visual analogue scales) and the degree of blood pressure variability. Taken in general, results did not confirm the psychological and psychophysiological profile repeatedly proposed for hypertensive patients.