We investigated the link between the eight basic emotions named by Plutchik and heart rate, heart-rate variability in the 114 patients, 86 men and 28 women (M = 53.8 yr., SD = 8.0) with acute coronary heart disease during the initial 24-hr. stay in the coronary care unit and again at hospital discharge. Variability in heart rate was significantly positively associated with scores on Trust (the emotional state acceptance) at hospital admission and discharge in the patients with unstable angina and non-Q-wave infarction, on Aggression in the patients with unstable angina at hospital discharge and at hospital admission in the patients with non-Q-wave infarction. There was inverse relation on Timid (the emotional state fear) and Gregarious (joy) at hospital admission and on Distrust (disgust or rejection), Depressed (sadness), and Dyscontrol (impulsiveness) at hospital discharge in the patient with non-Q-wave infarction. There was no significant association between heart-rate variability and the scores on the Emotion Profile Index in the patients with anterior and posterior myocardial infarction. There was no statistically significant association between heart rate and scores on the Emotion Profile Index in the patients with acute coronary disease at hospital admission and discharge. Our results suggest psychological interventions that enhance emotional states represented by the Trust and Aggression scales and minimize those represented by Depressed, Dyscontrol, Timid, and Distrust scales could have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular function in the patients with unstable angina and non-Q-wave infarction in a hospital setting.

We examined the prevalence of Type A/B behavior and Emotion Profiles in 1084 employees. This report focused on the relationship between Type A behavior and eight basic emotion dimensions. Of the 1084 subjects 710 (65%) scored as Type A and 374 (34.5%) as Type B. The mean Bortner scores for all subjects were 182.8 (SD = 33.7), scores on emotional dimensions for Incorporation and Reproduction were high, and intensities for Ejection and Destruction were low; mean scores on other emotions were normal. Significant differences between Type A and Type B scores were found on six emotional dimensions. Subjects classified as Type A had ratings lower on trustful, controlled, and timid and higher on aggressive, distrustful, and uncontrolled than did persons classified as Type B. There were no differences between Type A and Type B scores on the emotion dimensions of Reproduction and Deprivation. Our data suggest multiple emotional components may comprise the Type A behavior pattern. This is important for behavioral counseling programs and early preventive efforts which could be aimed at reducing the intensity of Type A behaviors.

The associations of Type A or B behavior with age, sex, occupation, education, life needs satisfaction, smoking, and religion were studied. 242 women and 842 men, ages 21 to 64 years, (M age 42 +/- 8 yr.), completed the Bortner scale and rated on a 5-point scale their life needs satisfaction. Information on age, occupation, education, cigarette smoking, and religion were obtained from each subject. Scores for Type A and Type B behavior patterns in different age groups were very similar. Scores on Type A behavior were significantly more common in women than men. Type A behavior scores were identified in a larger proportion of managers, clerks, and in persons with university education than in manual workers and persons with only primary and secondary education. There was no difference between smokers and non-smokers and religious and nonreligious scorers. There was no difference in ratings for life needs satisfaction between persons identified as having scores on Type A and Type B behavior. The present analyses enhance our understanding of Type A behavior as related to age, sex, occupation, education, and life needs satisfaction in a Croatian sample.

We investigated heart rate and heart-rate variability in 82 patients, 60 men and 22 women (M = 54 yr., SD = 9) with acute coronary heart disease and scores on Bortner's scale at hospital admission and discharge. 48 patients were classified by their scores on Bortner's scale as Type A and 34 as Type B. Patients with acute coronary heart disease classified as Type A had a significantly lower mean heart rate than patients with acute coronary heart disease classified as Type B during the day at hospital admission and discharge and during the night at hospital discharge. Mean heart-rate variability was also significantly higher in the patients with acute coronary heart disease classified as Type A than in the patients with acute coronary heart disease classified as Type B during the day at hospital admission and discharge. The differences between two groups on the average heart rate and heart-rate variability were not significant during the night at hospital admission. In our study the patients with acute coronary heart disease classified by scores on Bortner's scale as Type A had higher vagal tone and more favorable sympathovagal balance than patients classified as Type B. This finding may have implications for the treatment of patients with acute coronary heart disease and may suggest some explanation about the protective effect of Type A behavior also.