Cardiovascular risk and biopsychosocial interplay: Association among hypertension, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation-observational study in primary care setting for efficient self-care

Abstract

Background: Aim of the study was to explore the relationship between emotional dimensions of hypertensive patients and the self-care skills; we tried to draw the psychological aspects could impact the health management in hypertension analyzing the effect of emotional regulation on self-care skills: our scope was to highlight the psychological dynamics into behavioral medicine approach.

Methods: In an observational study design, patients were collected. Patients with diagnosis of hypertension were recruited in primary care setting. Inclusion criteria included patients older than 18 years, with known and medically treated primary hypertension undergoing antihypertensive medication.

Results: Statistical analysis was carried out based on the data of 28 primary hypertensive patients (seven females, 21 males, mean age ± SD: 49.8 ± 7.8 years mean; clinic blood pressure: mean systolic blood pressure: 137.2 ± 13.1 mmHg, mean diastolic blood pressure: 82.1 ± 9.9 mmHg). Mean duration of hypertension in the sample was 13.1 years (±8.2 years). Correlations among the main variables of interest showed a positive and significant relationship between emotional dysregulation indexes, psychological distress, and self-care domains: awareness resulted negatively and significantly correlated to self-efficacy; nonacceptance, goals and impulse indexes seemed positively and significantly correlated to anxiety and depression; finally, stress was correlated positively and significantly to awareness and impulse.

Conclusions: Evidencing the role of emotion dysregulation on self-care skills and psychological outcomes, and specifically highlighting the impact of emotion dysregulation on self-care, our findings could inform the development and implementation of psychological interventions aimed at promoting psychological well-being and healthy behavior by focusing on the promotion of emotion regulation strategies, to reduce the risk for co-morbidity and/or severe cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: anxiety; biopsychological approach; cardiovascular risk; emotional dysregulation; hypertension; psychological distress.