the dangers of hostility

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980

hostile

friendly

perc

en

tag

e d

ead

119 men with hostility scores greater than the median (13)

136 with scores at or less than the median

16/119=13.4% dead

3/136=2.2% dead

Barefoot JC et al Hostility, CHD incidence, and total mortality: a 25-year follow-up study of 255 physicians Psychosom Med

1983;45:59-63

death rates in 255 medical graduates:

the dangers of hostility

Barefoot JC, Dahlstrom WG & Williams RB Hostility, CHD incidence, and total mortality: a 25-year follow-up study of 255 physicians Psychosomatic Medicine 1983;45:59-63

Williams RB et al The health consequences of hostility in Chesney MA & Rosenman RH (eds) Anger and hostility in cardiovascular and behavioural disorders Washington: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, 1985

Booth-Kewley S & Friedman H S Psychological predictors of heart disease: a quantitative review Psychol Bulletin 1987;101:343-62

Barefoot JC et al Suspiciousness, health and mortality: a follow-up study of 500 older adults Psychosom Med 1987;49:450-7

Friedman H S & Booth-Kewley S The "disease-prone personality": a meta-analytic view of the construct American Psychol 1987;42:539-55

Koskenvuo M, Kaprio J, et al Hostility as a risk factor for mortality and ischaemic heart disease in men Psychosom Med 1988;50:330-40

Leff J, Berkowitz R, et al A trial of family therapy versus a relatives' group for schizophrenia: 2-year follow up Br J Psychiatry 1990;157:571-7

emotional states: powerful effects

Rein G et al The physiological and psychological effects of

compassion and angerJ Adv Med 1995;8:87-105

30 subjects who had already completed a course in stress management training

15 min rest then 5 min focus around the heart area while inducing an “emotional state”

either care and compassion towards someone or recall of angry/frustrating experiences

a study in psychoneuroimmunology:

S-IgA, mood & symptom changes

compassion group anger group

immediate change in S-IgA

41% increase* no significant change

changes in S-IgA over next 6 hours

0-25% increase 13-54% decrease*

changes in mood disturbance -

POMS

vigour up, tension & hostility down*

tension, hostility, fatigue & confusion

up* physical symptom

changes relaxation headaches, muscle

pains, indigestion

values marked with a * are all statistically significant

total mood score was calculated by multiplying emotional intensity (0=very weak; 10=very strong) by the % of time during the 5 minute exercise that the emotion was felt - the mean score in a preliminary

study was 510 +/- 251.

relationships & wellbeing: research

Argyle M The psychology of happiness London: Routledge, 1987 Barnett PA et al Psychosocial functioning & depression: distinguishing

among antecedents, concomitants, & consequences Psychol Bull 1988;104:97-126

House JS et al Social relationships & health Science 1988;241:540-5 Silove D et al Perceptions of general and specific therapist behaviors

J Nerv Ment Dis 1990;178:292-9 Brown GW et al Self-esteem and depression: II & III Soc Psychiatry

Psychiat Epidemiol 1990;25:225-34 & 235-43 Hickie I et al Perceived interpersonal risk factors of non-endogenous

depression Psychol Med 1991;21:399-412 Csikszentmihalyi M Flow: the psychology of happiness London: Rider,

1992 Goleman D Emotional intelligence: why it can matter more than IQ

London: Bloomsbury, 1996

life’s voyage: what keeps us afloat!

the construction materials - genetics, aptitudes

how the boat was built - early life experiences

major events on the voyage - significant life events

the other boats around us - social support, relationships

quality of our seamanship - appropriate coping skills

if some areas are weakit’s all the more importantto be strong in the others

the practice till the final session

full standard exercise plus optional “goodwill” practice:Use the full standard autogenic training exercise as you have doing in the last few weeks. Whenever you feel it would be helpful add on the “goodwill” practice or a variant that has the same sort of intention.

every day: You are now experienced enough to experiment for yourself to find out how long and how frequent your practice should be. Once or twice a day suits many people. Continue as well to work with brief re-centering exercises through-out the day. Try too choosing a specific activity such as walking, washing, eating etc to use as an semi-formal awareness challenge each week till next time.