PSYCHOLOGICAL PREDICTORS OF PATIENTS COMPLIANCE WITH NONDRUG TREATMENT OF ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

Psychological tests (Multifactorial Raiting Scale, Mini-Mult, ''16 PF'', ''Quality of Life'') were used in examination of 178 men aged 18-57 years with mild hypertension prior to randomization into 3 intervention groups: (1) psychological relaxation, (2) hyposodium diet, (3) exersise. Results of baseline tests of 43 with draun patients (''noncompliants'') were compared with data obtained in 135 patients who completed the treatment course (''compliants''). Low educational level and negative attitude towards medical recommendations characterized noncompliants in all treatment groups. Psychopathological symptoms occurred more often in compliants in relaxation group and in noncompliants in diet and exercise groups. Personality traits of noncompliants depended on type of treatment: low selfcontrol and lack of responsibility were characteristic of noncompliants with relaxation therapy; nonconformism and lower activity characterized noncompliants on diet and lack of ability for a long-term purposeful effort and certain infantilism-noncompliants on exercise. Mathematical formulas were derived which enabled prediction of noncompliance with intervention in 72-89% of patients.