Assessments of the Psychological Side-Effects of Antihypertensive Medication

Callender, John Simpson (1990) Assessments of the Psychological Side-Effects of Antihypertensive Medication. MD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

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.

• Item Type: Thesis (MD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Psychobiology, Pharmaceutical sciences
• Date of Award: 1990
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1990-78174
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 30 Jan 2020 15:38
• Last Modified: 30 Jan 2020 15:38
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/78174