Key result
Hydrochlorothiazide uncouples hostility from blood pressure in hypertensive women without altering emotional distress.
Why the study?
The psychophysiologic relations between anxiety, hostility, and blood pressure in hypertensive women were not well understood.
RCT (n=12)
In an experimental study of the pathologic psychophysiology of essential hypertension, measurements of anxiety and hostility levels of 12 hypertensive women were observed over two 3-week periods; during these time periods the women received either hydrochlorothiazide (25–50 mg.) or a placebo. Significant positive correlations occurred between hostility inward levels and average systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Significant negative correlations occurred between hostility outward levels and blood pressure. These and other significant psychophysiologic correlations disappeared completely when the subjects were taking hydrochlorothiazide. Furthermore, no significant changes in anxiety or hostility levels occurred while the women were taking hydrochlorothiazide, even though there were significant decreases in blood pressure during this time.
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Gottschalk et al. (1964) conducted an RCT in Essential hypertension (n=12). Hydrochlorothiazide vs. Placebo was evaluated on Correlations between anxiety and hostility levels and blood pressure. Hydrochlorothiazide eliminated significant psychophysiologic correlations between hostility levels and blood pressure in hypertensive women without altering absolute anxiety or hostility levels.
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