Anxiety and depression in young and middle aged hypertensive and normotensive subjects.

This study examined the effects of essential hypertension on measures of anxiety and depression for two age groups of hypertensive (free from hypertension-related pathology and/or cardiovascular disease) and normotensive subjects. Hypertensive subjects had significantly higher State Anxiety scores and Zung Depression scores than did normotensive subjects. These differences between the blood pressure groups were due largely to the scores of the younger hypertensive subjects. The results of the present study are consistent with previous results from our laboratory that have found that younger hypertensives differed (relative to controls) from middle aged hypertensives on measures, such as, symptoms reported on the Cornell Medical Index and WAIS Performance scores. The results of the present study were discussed within the context of age associated differences in response to hypertension and factors that might account for these differences.