The Lived Experience of Myocardial Infarction
Date
2019
Authors
Matthews, Schae Louise
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Thesis
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Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of death and disability worldwide and
include diseases of the heart, vascular diseases of the brain and diseases of the blood vessels.
Coronary artery disease (CAD), a specific type of CVD, is a chronic disease which
encompasses stable and unstable periods. During unstable periods, vascular wall
inflammation and other manifestations of atherosclerosis may cause individuals to develop a
myocardial infarction (MI). MI may go undetected, be a minor event in a lifelong chronic
disease, or be a major catastrophic event leading to severe cardiac deterioration or sudden
cardiac death. Experiencing MI frequently alters an individual’s mental representation of self
and is often accompanied by mental health concerns including fear, anxiety, worry,
depression, grief and loss. Likewise, individuals who experience MI frequently endorse
concerns about the social and interpersonal impacts of the condition. Initial research has also
identified important variances in how men and women experience MI, with significant
implications for future prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. This review aims to identify,
analyse and synthesise existing knowledge about individuals’ experiences of MI and
comment on the gender differences highlighted within the literature.
School/Discipline
School of Psychology
Dissertation Note
Thesis (M.Psych(Clinical)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2019
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