Abstract

This study investigated the Type A Behavior (TAB) and anger in cardiovascular patients who had suffered a stroke. The participants were 42 stroke patients who were compared with 36 low back pain patients. TAB and the experience, expression, and control of anger were assessed by the Korean adaptation/translation of the Eysenck and Fulker (1983) TAB scale and Spielberger's (988) State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. Stroke patients had significantly higher scores than low back pain patients on the TAB Tenseness subscale and the ST AX! Trait Anger Scale. However, logistic regression analysis revealed that trait anger, but not TAB, was an important predictor of stroke. When stroke patients were divided into cerebral infarction vs. hemorrhage groups, the cerebral infarction group had higher STAX! Trait anger, Anger-In, Anger-Out, Anger-Control, and higher TAB Tenseness and Ambition scores than the hemorrhage group. These findings suggested that anger but not TAB was an important psychological factor that contributed to stroke. Differences in TAB tenseness and ambition and the experience and expression of anger were also important determinants of the particular type of stroke that was experienced.