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DISSERTATIONS - 2002
A psychological study into myocardial infarction in women.
Heloisa Dias da Silva Galan
Advisor: Denise G. Ramos.
Key words: myocardial infarction, women, psychological effects, symbol, psychosomatic, Jungian psychology.
Abstract: Cardiovascular illnesses have been identified as the main cause of death in developed countries. Although the mortality rate is higher for men, today, cardiac illnesses are known to be main cause of death for women. Thus, it is fundamental that the women who suffer heart attacks and the professionals that work with them are aware of the gravity of the problem. The objective of this study aimed to comprehend the experience of women who suffered myocardial infarction, researching into what happens psychologically with these women, how they understand their illness and what, from a symbolic point of view, is being expressed by their "injured hearts". Qualitative research was performed, with the theoretical foundation based on analytical psychology, which understands illness as a symbolic representation. The procedure adopted to undertake the research consisted of performing individual interviews with nine women between the ages of 37 and 60. From the results of these nine cases researched it is possible to conclude that these women have an extremely low sense of self worth and developed an identity unilaterally adapted to external standards, to the collective. They constructed a way of being and existing that did not openly oppose others or question the conditions imposed on them by others. This they achieved by repressing their feelings, potentials and impulses. Having a heart attack represented an emotionally significant experience and had internal repercussions, causing these women to become more reflective and to start to think more about own lives, to re-evaluate their attitudes and their plans for the future. The infarction has a significant psychological impact on the women that suffer such. Thus, we need to emphasis the importance and need for care and psychological support in the cardiac hospitals, where professionals should be aware of this impact and can act as facilitators in the psychic process stimulated by the fact of experiencing a myocardial infarction.
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