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Biomedical subjects

C Mertens

Publications and source records attributed to C Mertens.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Psychological links and coronary diseases. II. Psychological correlations of certain physiological variables (author's transl)].

In this study, correlations were tabulated between physiological and psychological measurements drawn from a group of 21 infarct patients and a matching group of 21 normal subjects. The physiological variables taken under consideration are the number of platelets, the beta-lipoproteines and the systolic blood pressure; all these variables were tested under stress and at rest. On the top, fibrinogene at rest, cortisol under stress and heart rate under conditions of "intake" and "rejection" were also measured. The psychological assessment was achieved by the MMPI. Several psychological traits link with physiological parameters to be considered as cardiovascular risks. However, these links are mostly specific; moreover, they vary under different experimental conditions. In other words, different neuro-behavioral patterns seem to operate at rest and under stress. The links between psychological and physiological variables vary also between normal subjects and infarct patients. Normal subjects as well as infarct patients show a relationship between neurotic traits and genuine physiological reactions. However, among the formers, these neurotic traits are in closer relationship with inhibitions as among heart patients. Psychological risk factors in cardiovascular disorders appear to be related with a genuine expression of conflictual affects leading to inadequate physiological responses; when these reactions are repeated in time, functional disorders may induce organic lesions.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological etiology in cardiovascular disorders. Basic findings and new trends.

Five theories advocate the existence of psychogenic factors in the etiology of cardiovascular diseases. The first of these theories involves a behavioral pattern. Pattern A is predictive of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors. The second of these theories implies three personality patterns: IRA (Impulsiveness, Repression, Aggressiveness), HHD (Hypochondriasis, Hysteria, Depression) and SAD (Stress, Anxiety, Depression). IRA discriminates significantly people with cardiovascular diseases from healthy subjects. IRA-like patterns account for some 60% of the variance. HHD discriminates to some degree people who show thrombopenia as a reaction to stress. Cardiovascular patients stereotype their defenses and seem to cluster in two subamples: 66% of them repress their aggressiveness and 34% use opposite defense mechanisms. SAD is a reliable predictor; stressful events constitute a risk factor, mainly in anxious or depressed and hostile subjects.

Aggression↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Approach to the personality of the coronary patients with a new modifyed MMPI scale (author's transl)].

In order to set up an instrument for psychologically differentiate normal from coronary subjects, the analysis of 550 items of the MMPI in 40 normal and 40 coronary subjects has been performed. This has allowed to elaborate a questionnaire of 69 items, the Polyvar, and two new MMPI scales, which try to focus on the way conflictual affects are being expressed by coronary patients. Applied to new populations, these two instruments permit to significantly differentiate normal from coronary subjects. The last are characterized by a trouble in the existence and a rigid denial of any weakness. They look like individuals who can not satisfy their fundamental pulsions without risking to confront other requests, and through this, they generate anxiety and guilt.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Subjective importance and affective organization of body concepts after myocardial infarction (author's transl)].

Subjective importance and affective organization of fifty body concepts have been evaluated in sixty myocardial patients and sixty healthy subjects. Myocardial patients attribute more importance to their articulations and perceive their bodies as an instrument for action rather than as a locus of emotion and pleasure. This observation is discussed in relation with the hypothesis of "pensée opératoire".

Body Image↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Psychological links and coronary diseases. I. Physiological correlations of certain psychological variables (author's transl)].

Twenty-one infarct patients were compared with 21 normal subjects regarding several hemodynamic, lipidic and neuroendocrine variables, in various stress situations and at rest. Correlations were tabulated between those bioclinical measurements and various personality patterns drawn from the MMPI. This study shows that the physiological reactions to stress vary in subjects with psychological cardiovascular risk factors as compared to subjects without psychological risk factors. The bearers of psychological risk factors show a higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, a specific lipids pattern and a lower rate of platelets. In summary, psychological risk factors link with physiological reactions to stress which appear to be by themselves cardiovascular risk factors.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Homogeneity of defence mechanisms in a group of infarct patients and impact of these defences on the expression of their emotions (author's transl)].

This study made use of the EMO-Questionnaire of Baehr and Baehr and the DMI of gleser and Ihilevich. The first purpose of this study is to evaluate the homogeneity of a group of infarct patients as to what the defence mechanisms are concerned. The wards statistical procedure showed the group was composed of two subgroups amounting respectively 66% (group I) and 34% (group II) of the subjects. The discriminant function analysis reveals how much the two groups are differentiated but coherent. The subjects of group I use predominately intellectualization and denegation; they use moderately turning against self and projection; they use rarely turning against object. The subjects of group II make moderately use of all these defence mechanisms. The second purpose is to precise in which measure the way of expression of affects is related to the defence mechanisms. The U-test of Mann Whitney reveals lower scores among the subjects of group I as compared to those of group II, in aggressiveness, anxiety, inferiority feelings, somatisation, fantasy productions and withdrawal.

Defense Mechanisms↗