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Hypertension labelling, life events and psychological well-being

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Torbjørn Moum ,
Siri Næss ,
Tom Sørensen ,
Kristian Tambs  and
Jostein Holmen
Torbjørn Moum*
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo; Institute of Applied Social Research, Oslo; Psychiatric Clinic VIA, Ullevaal Hospital, Oslo; National Institute of Public Health, Verdal, Norway
Siri Næss
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo; Institute of Applied Social Research, Oslo; Psychiatric Clinic VIA, Ullevaal Hospital, Oslo; National Institute of Public Health, Verdal, Norway
Tom Sørensen
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo; Institute of Applied Social Research, Oslo; Psychiatric Clinic VIA, Ullevaal Hospital, Oslo; National Institute of Public Health, Verdal, Norway
Kristian Tambs
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo; Institute of Applied Social Research, Oslo; Psychiatric Clinic VIA, Ullevaal Hospital, Oslo; National Institute of Public Health, Verdal, Norway
Jostein Holmen
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo; Institute of Applied Social Research, Oslo; Psychiatric Clinic VIA, Ullevaal Hospital, Oslo; National Institute of Public Health, Verdal, Norway
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Torbjorn Mourn, Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, PO Box 1111, Blindern, 0317 Oslo 3, Norway.
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Synopsis

Almost all previous studies of the psychological sequelae of hypertension labelling have lacked a prospective, longitudinal design which could allow for causal interpretations. The present study relies on questionnaire data from a hypertension screening carried out on the entire adult population of a medium-sized, Norwegian county (total number of participants = 74977). ‘Labelled’ individuals, i.e. previously unaware hypertensives (N = 173), false positives (N = 233), and patients in need of continued BP control (N = 474) have been followed up after 1–3 years, and comparisons are made with aware hypertensives (N = 206), patients previously treated for hypertension (N = 118), and a random sample of normotensives (N = 2326). ‘Pre-labelling’, baseline measures of subjective well-being had been carried out on all comparison groups in connection with the screening. Changes in psychological well-being are not significantly related to labelling or BP-status. However, there is a deterioration in psychological well-being among participants who have been subjected to one or more negative life events/stresses (other than labelling) in the preceding 12 months.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , August 1990 , pp. 635 - 646
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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