Psychosocial adaptation post-myocardial infarction: the spouse's dilemma.

Abstract This study documents psychosocial disability in spouses of post-myocardial infarction patients. Spouses were studied while the patient was in the hospital and six months thereafter. Anxious/ depressed spouses were women whose post-infarct husbands were ‘deniers’. These spouses felt overwhelmed by the infarct experience, the resulting family disequilibrium and a self-imposed non-communication. Treatment techniques are described.