Abstract
A number of studies have demonstrated relationships between various self-endorsed “irrational beliefs” and Type A coronary-prone behavior in young, healthy college student samples and in healthy, middle-management executives. The present study examined the relationship between Type A personality and irrational beliefs in a sample with coronary heart disease. Extensive analyses yielded some statistically significant results. Type A behavior and its components were related to beliefs reflecting inordinate need for competence and concern about control issues. The observed relationships were small and, by themselves, appeared to have limited clinical utility. While it was concluded that cognitive intervention may be effective in reducing some facets of coronary-prone behavior in certain individuals, such therapies would best be applied after the identification of specific target beliefs.
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