Abstract
The aim of the present study was to illustrate how a patient with a myocardial infarction history may experience current anxiety. We conducted the assessment using a phenomenological method. The participant was a 62-year old man, chronically ill due to two myocardial infarctions and heart failure. Five categories emerged from the data: distress, worthlessness, insecurity, indifference, and lack of strength, illustrating feelings embedded in the current anxiety. These feelings relate to past and present experiences as well as to an insecure future. The findings are not generalizable in a statistical manner, but they are an illustration of the importance of identifying a cardiac patient’s current anxiety from a holistic perspective, in order to understand what is occurring emotionally and to understand the need for emotional support. Qualities in the caring relationship may create possibilities for this patient to receive and perceive emotional support.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersson, L., and Stevens, N. (1993). Associations between early experiences with parents and well-being in old age.J. Gerontol. 48: 109–116.
Becker, C. S. (1992).Living and Relating. An Introduction to Phenomenology, Sage, Newbury Park, CA, pp. 7–23.
Bengtsson, J. (1988).Sammanflätningar. Fenomenologi från Husserl till Merleau-Ponty [Intertwinings. From Husserl to Merleau-Ponty], Daidalos AB, Gothenburg, pp. 17–24.
Berkman, L. F., Leo-Summers, L., and Horwitz, R. I. (1992). Emotional support and survival after myocardial infarction: A prospective, population-based study of the elderly.Ann. Intern. Med. 117: 1003–1009.
Bowlby, J. (1991).Attachment and Loss, Vol. 2. Separation: Anxiety and Anger, Penguin Books, London, pp. 234–254.
Buber, M. (1988). Elements of the interhuman. In Buber M., (ed.),The Knowledge of Man, Humanities Press International, Atlantic Highlands, NJ, pp. 62–78.
Case, R. B., Moss, A. J., Case, N., McDermott, M., and Eberly, M. S. (1992). Living alone after myocardial infarction: Impact on prognosis.JAMA 267: 517–519.
Cassem, N. H., and Hackett, T. P. (1979). Ego-Infarction. Psychological reactions to a heart attack.J. Pract. Nurs. 29: 17–20, 39.
Cohen, S., and Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis.Psychol. Bull. 98: 310–357.
Colaizzi, P. F. (1978). Psychological research as the phenomenologist views it. In Valle, R. S., and King, M., (eds.),Existential-phenomenological alternatives for psychology, Oxford University Press, New York, Vol. 8, pp. 48–71.
Cullberg, J. (1991). Om den psykiska ohälsans orsaker och hur den psykiska hälsan kan befrämjas [About the causes of psychological ill health and how the psychological health can be promoted]. InFolkhälsorapport [National Public Health Report], National Board of Health and Welfare, Stockholm, pp. 31–44.
Eriksson, K. (1992).Broar—Introduktion i Vårdvetenskaplig Metod [Bridges—Introduction to the Methods of Caring Science], Department of Caring Science, Vasa, pp 297–303.
Fridlund, B. (1997). The case study as a research strategy.Scand. J. Caring Sci. 11: 3–4.
Fridlund, B., Högstedt, B., Lidell, E., and Larsson, P. A. (1991). Recovery after myocardial infarction: Effects of a caring rehabilitation programme.Scand. J. Caring Sci. 5: 23–32.
Gustavsson, B., and Pörn, I. (1994). A motivational approach to confirmation. An interpretation of dysphagic patients’ experiences.Theor. Med. 15: 409–430.
Havik, O. E., and Maeland, J. G. (1990). Patterns of emotional reactions in myocardial infarction patients.J. Psychsom. Res. 34: 271–285.
Lazarus, R. S. (1992) Coping with the stress of illness. In Kaplun, A. (ed.),Health Promotion and Chronic Illness, WHO Regional Publications, European Series 44, pp. 11–29.
Lebovitz, B. Z., Shekelle, R. B., Ostfeld, A. M., and Oglesby, P. (1967). Prospective and retrospective psychological studies of coronary heart disease.Psychosom. Med. 29: 265–272.
Lewis, A. (1970–1971). The ambiguous word “Anxiety.”Int. J. Psychiat. 9: 62–79.
Maeland, J. G., and Havik, O. E. (1987). The effects of an in-hospital educational programme for myocardial infarction patients.Scand. J. Rehab. Med. 19: 57–65.
May, R. (1977).The Meaning of Anxiety, W. W. Norton, New York, pp. 204–239.
Miller, T. W. (1988). Advances in understanding the impact of stressful life events on health.Hosp. Comm. Psychiat. 39: 615–622.
Muhlenkamp, A. F., and Sayles, J. A. (1986). Self-esteem, social support and positive health practices.Nurs. Res. 34: 334–338.
Munhall, P. L., and Oiler Boyd, C. J. (1993).Nursing Research: A Qualitative Perspective, National League for Nursing Press, New York, pp. 66–93.
Naess, S. (1987).Quality of Life Research. Concepts, Methods, and Applications, Institute of Applied Social Research, Oslo, pp. 13–20.
National Board of Health and Welfare (1990).Ethical declarations and principles, NBHW, Stockholm.
Paffenbarger, R. S., Jr., Wolf, P. A., Notkin, J., and Thorne, M. C. (1966). Chronic disease in former college students. I. Early precursors of fatal coronary heart disease.Am. J. Epidemiol. 83: 314–328.
Rosenberg, M. (1965).Society and the Adolescent Self-Image, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, pp. 149–167.
Rowe, D. (1987).Beyond Fear, Forum, Boras, Sweden, pp. 15–19.
Stanwyck, D. J. (1983). Self-esteem through the life-span.Family Comm. Health 6: 11–28.
Sterling, Y. M., and McNally, J. A. (1992). Single-subject research for nursing practice.Clin. Nurse Spec. 6: 21–26.
Sykes, D. H., Evans, A. E., Boyle, D. Mc., McIlmoyle, E., and Salathia, K. S. (1989). Discharge from a coronary care unit: Psychological factors.J. Psychosom. Res. 33: 477–488.
Thompson, D. R., and Meddis, R. (1990). A prospective evaluation of in-hospital counselling for first time myocardial infarction men.J. Psychosom. Res. 34: 237–248.
Weiss, R. S. (1974). The provisions of social relationships. In Rubin, A. (ed.),Doing unto Others, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, pp. 17–26.
Wiklund, I., and Welin, C. (1992). A comparison of different psychosocial questionnaires in patients with myocardial infarction.Scand. J. Rehab. Med. 24: 195–202.
Wiklund, I., Sanne, H., Elmfeldt, D., Vedin, A., and Wilhelmsson, C. (1984). Emotional reaction, health preoccupation and sexual activity two months after a myocardial infarction.Scand. J. Rehab. Med. 16: 47–56.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lidell, E., Segesten, K. & Fridlund, B. A myocardial infarction patient’s current anxiety: Assessed with a phenomenological method. Int J Rehab Health 3, 205–218 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02766067
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02766067