View article

Although depression, anxiety, and hostility/anger have each been associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, these overlapping negative emotions have not been simultaneously examined as predictors of the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis.

To evaluate the relative importance of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and hostility/anger in predicting subclinical atherosclerotic progression over a 3-year period.

The Pittsburgh Healthy Heart Project, an ongoing prospective cohort study of healthy, older men and women from the general community. At baseline, questionnaires were administered to assess depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, hostility, anger experience, and anger expression. Mean carotid intima-media thickness was assessed by B-mode ultrasonography during the baseline and 3-year follow-up visits.

Of the 464 adults …