Evaluation of the Significance of the Psychosocial Risk Factors in Patients with Cerebrovascular Disease

Abstract

The report presents a randomized study to assess the significance of psychosocial (PS) factors for the dominant brain form of atherosclerosis – cerebrovascular disease (CVD), using a battery of original tests to assess and quantify the psychosocial status of the subjects and a validated test for conventional risk factors, compiled in an integrated questionnaire. The study enrolled a total of 201 subjects: normal control group (NC, N=100); group of patients with CVD (CVD; N=101). The test for conventional risk factors (I) found significantly higher negative values in patients with CVD, in comparison to the clinically healthy control group. In the case of the specific PS tests II (Psychosocial Personality Assessment), III (Spiritual Dysfunction), and IV (Stress and Adaptation), we found significantly lower parameter values in the CVD group vs. the NC group. The study using the cognitive test V, found again significantly lower test values in patients with CVD, compared to the NC subjects. On the basis of the settled standards, it was found that PS test II, III and IV parameters were normal in 76% of cases in the clinically healthy subjects and were risky or pathological in almost 60% of cases in patients with atherosclerosis. The deteriorated quality of life and lack of happiness comprise a major risk factor for the onset and development of atherosclerosis. The relative risk (RR) for developing atherosclerosis in conventional risk factors according to Test I is 1.5. In the case of the PS risk factors, the RR values are 1.5. These findings firmly demonstrate that the psychosocial factors are just as significant risk factors for atherosclerosis as the conventional ones.