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Anxiety and the heart – a historical review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Paul W. Skerritt*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr P. W. Skerritt, Department of Psychiatry, Royal Perth Hospital, P.O. Box X2213, Perth, Western Australian 6001.

Synopsis

A review is presented of literature describing cardiovascular manifestations of anxiety until the end of the second World War. Clear observations of this important group of somatic anxiety symptoms have been made throughout history, although then, as now, the interpretation of these observations has varied according to the point of view and orientation of the writer. An understanding of the interrelationships between somatic and psychic symptoms of anxiety is particularly necessary now that certain specific symptomatic treatments are available.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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