Published on
Updated
Reading 2 mins.
in collaboration with
Dr. Joachim Müllner (Psychiatrist)
It is known that people with neurosis have a higher risk of developing a chronic disease, such as certain cardiovascular diseases. What if the reverse was possible? Could arterial hypertension be responsible for the appearance of neuroses? Explanations.
High blood pressure (HTA) is a very widespread cardiovascular pathology. It has well-known effects on the body. On the other hand, its impact on our psyche has been very little studied. Scientists from Florida State University in the United States therefore wondered about the link between hypertension and neurotic disorders.
What are neurotic disorders or neuroses?
Neuroses or neurotic disorders are a personality trait present in people who often experience negative emotions, such as anxiety, anger, fear or guilt. While it is commonly accepted that this type of emotion affects physical health, the reverse has also been studied, and more particularly the link between high blood pressure and the development of these mood disorders.
Blood pressure measurements and effects on the psyche
The scientists relied on several datasets containing DNA extracted from blood samples, mostly from people of Caucasian descent. They then used a “Mendelian randomization” method to examine the association between blood pressure (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and hypertension) and four psychological states: anxiety, depressive symptoms, neurotic disorders and subjective well-being – from these data.
Result: their analysis showed that diastolic blood pressure had “significant causal effectson neurotic disorders but not on anxiety, depressive symptoms or subjective well-being.
Limits to this study
Although they believe there is a link between high blood pressure and neurosis, the researchers give limitations to their work. The first because of the genetic origin of the blood samples used. As they all come from people of European descent, the results cannot be generalized to everyone.
The other limit relates to the genetic question, the researchers being unable to exclude a genetic link between diastolic arterial pressure and neurosis. In addition, people with neurotic disorders”experience high stress more frequently, which can lead to elevated blood pressure and cardiovascular disease” note the authors.
The opinion of Dr Joachim Müllner, psychiatrist and member of the Doctissimo expert committee
“In my opinion the extent to which one should read the results of this study can be summed up in this sentence: “Individuals with “neuroticism” more often experience elevated mental stress, which can lead to an increase in arterial and cardiovascular diseases. THEREFORE, appropriate blood pressure management could reduce “neuroticism”, which induces mood disorders and cardiovascular disease.”
There is, summarized in this sentence, all the vagueness that is maintained throughout the writing of this article as to the cause and consequence relationship that exists between stress and increased blood pressure. This link is found in both directions: having a stressed temperament or marked by “neuroticism” can lead to an increase in blood pressure, and an increase in blood pressure can lead to psychological disorders and cardiovascular pathologies.
It is therefore necessary to take joint care of mental disorders as much as arterial hypertension”.