Assessments of the Psychological Side-Effects of Antihypertensive Medication

[摘要] This thesis describes three studies of the effects of anti-hypertensive drugs on various aspects of psychological well-being. The first investigation was a small pilot study of the effects of captopril on psychiatric status. This was prompted by anecdotal reports of mood elevation in hypertensive patients receiving this drug. No evidence for a euphoriant effect of captopril was found. Patients on captopril had significantly higher scores on a questionnaire of psychiatric symptoms. The second and third trials were investigations of the effects of antihypertensive agents on aspects of "quality of life". In all, four drugs were assessed for effects on psychiatric well-being, social adjustment and intellectual functioning. Patients on atenolol performed less well on tests of concentration and information processing, compared to those on enalapril. Patients on nicardipine and propranolol had impairment of performance on tests of non-verbal memory. There was no demonstrable decrement in psychiatric well-being and social functioning in patients on any of the drugs.

[发布机构] University:University of Glasgow

[关键词] Psychobiology, Pharmaceutical sciences