Cognitive structure and risk of myocardial infarct

In a psychophysiological experiment with 18 patients with cardiovascular disorders but without infarction we proved the influence of habituallized cognitive structures on reactivity under mental load. We used the concepts of different causal attribution (Explanatory style: Peterson and Seligman) and psychic regulation of activity and action (Activity style: Gunther). It can be shown that patients with pessimistic explanatory style as well as with diffuse psychic activity control show coronary-prone reaction patterns under load (indicators: cortisol and triglycerids in serum).