Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 58, Issue 2 , Pages 153-161, February 2005

Anxiety and depression following myocardial infarction: gender differences in a 5-year prospective study

  • Ottar Bjerkeset

      Affiliations

    • HUNT Research Centre, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
    • Psychiatric Department, Levanger Hospital, Levanger, Norway
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. HUNT Research Centre, Neptunveien 1, Verdal 7650, Norway. Tel.: +47 74075191; fax: +47 74075181.
    • ,
  • Hans M. Nordahl

      Affiliations

    • Psychiatric Department, Levanger Hospital, Levanger, Norway
    • Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
    • ,
  • Arnstein Mykletun

      Affiliations

    • Research Centre for Health Promotion, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
    • ,
  • Jostein Holmen

      Affiliations

    • HUNT Research Centre, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
    • ,
  • Alv A. Dahl

      Affiliations

    • Department of Clinical Oncology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway

Received 9 December 2003; accepted 19 July 2004.

Abstract 

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the first myocardial infarction (MI) and the relative influence of preexisting confounding factors on anxiety and depression in the following 5 years.

Methods

A total of 23,693 participants, 35–79 years of age at baseline, attended two population-based prospective studies in 1984–1986 and in 1995–1997. They underwent physical examination and self-reported demographic, lifestyle, psychosocial, and medical health characteristics in both surveys. Outcome measure was the Hospital Anxiety and Depression rating Scale (HADS).

Results

Five hundred twelve participants suffered their first MI in the last 5 years before follow-up. Women showed an increased risk for both anxiety and depression in the first 2 years post-MI, followed by a significant symptom reduction. In contrast, the risk for depression in men increased after 2 years post-MI. Anxiety and depression, low educational level, obesity, daily smoking, and physical inactivity pre-MI significantly predicted a poor psychiatric outcome at follow-up.

Conclusion

Five-year follow-up after MI revealed gender-specific outcomes of anxiety and depression not previously described.

Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Gender, Myocardial infarction, Prospective

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PII: S0022-3999(04)00593-8

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.07.011

Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 58, Issue 2 , Pages 153-161, February 2005

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