Psychosomatic mechanisms of cardiac infarction pathogenesis in subjects following experience of extreme states

Abstract

Background. Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of mortality and morbidity in Russia. Objective. To detect the main features of myocardial infarction pathogenesis in patients following experience of an extreme state. Design and methods. We included 140 patients with myocardial infarction and 151 liquidators of the Chernobyl accident with myocardial infarction; we used clinical and psychological methods of examination. Results. We found certain clinical and psychological patterns and mechanisms of apprehensive and extramental psychosomatic models of self destructive behavior in patients who took part in liquidating the Chernobyl accident. Conclusions. Experience of an extreme state distorts both clinical and psychological mechanisms of disease response that leads to the pathological change of the existence meaning including the existence in a disease. The participants who have had an experience of an extreme state demonstrate mechanisms of self destructive behaviour both at organic and psychological levels.