CLINICAL ANGER AND NEGATIVE EXPRESSIVITY - ARE THEY PREDICTORS OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION?

Abstract

Objectives: To examine association between clinical anger, emotion expressivityand cognitive performance of hypertensive patients.

Methodology: The study had cross sectional research design. Purposivesampling was used. Patients diagnosed with hypertension at Nishter HospitalMultan and Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur, Pakistan and healthyindividuals from community participated in the study during 1st April to 31stOctober 2016. Subjects completed clinical anger scale, Berkeley expressivityquestionnaire and Mini mental status examination.

Results: Total of 80 hypertensive and 80 healthy individuals were included in thestudy. Patients with hypertension showed higher clinical anger (M±SD patients54.38±3.87 vs. healthy individuals 10.15±2.01) and expressivity of negativeemotions (5.31±1.02) than healthy individuals (2.23±0.84). In contrast withhealthy individuals, patients with hypertension showed cognitive impairment(14.63 ± 2.87 vs. 27.31 ± 1.57). Clinical anger (β=-.64, t=-7.41, p<.001)and negative expressivity (β=-.33, t=-3.84, p<.001) were significantpredictors of cognitive performance in patients with hypertension R2= .90,F(12, 79)= 52.24, p<.001.

Conclusion: Clinical anger and negative emotion expressivity are significantmarkers of cognitive decline associated with hypertension.