Denial Among Male Heart Patients*

Abstract

Among 345 men under treatment for approximately 3 weeks after a first myocardial infarction, 20% were classified as denying that they had had a heart attack. Deniers and nondeniers of the heart attack were compared with regard to (a) whether there were social and psychologic correlates of the denial response, and (b) other areas to which denial was generalized. A third area examined was the temporal aspect--ie, the manifestation of denial over time. Findings obtained from three interviews over a period of a year suggest an association between denial and ethnic background. Generalization of denial of the heart attack appeared in such findings as a tendency to disavow negative traits, minimizing of symptoms, minimizing the effects of the attack on life in general and on work in particular. One association of relevance to physicians was the tendency for deniers to resist medical advice related to work, rest and smoking. Differences in response between the deniers and nondeniers were noted 1 month after discharge from the hospital and 1 year after the infarct, suggesting persistence of the denial.