Accumulating evidence links psychosocial factors with the development of atherosclerosis. Much of this previous research has been conducted in nonhuman samples. Recent developments in the noninvasive assessment of subclinical atherosclerotic disease, along with the measurement of mental stress and stress responding, have allowed us to extend this type of investigation to human community samples, with important implications for risk stratification and prevention. During our initial funding period, we recruited a sample of 367 healthy men and women with no history of cardiovascular disease (50-70 years of age). Measures of psychosocial demands and social support were assessed during daily life, using a real-time electronic diary system. We also assessed individual differences in stress-related cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) using an automated test battery developed in our laboratory. These psychosocial factors were shown to be associated, as hypothesized, with ambulatory blood pressure (ABP), carotid artery atherosclerosis, by ultrasound, and, in some cases, with three-year carotid artery atherosclerotic progression as well. A number of gender differences in the association between psychosocial factors and atherosclerosis were observed. In this competing renewal application, we propose continuing to follow this sample for an additional 2-1/2 year funding period, with the following aims: a) to replicate and extend our initial findings on carotid atherosclerosis over a longer time course (total of 6 years), examining how psychosocial factors may be linked with the longer term trajectory of subclinical atherosclerosis in a healthy community sample; b) to determine whether changes in psychosocial factors over a 6-year time frame may be associated with commensurate alterations in the course of the disease, a question which may have implications for early intervention; c) to examine the extent to which psychosocial factors may be related to ABP changes over the 6-year follow-up period and to explore the extent to which such changes may contribute to atherosclerotic risk; and d) to determine the role of biological factors (specifically, the effects of autonomic function) and behavioral factors (specifically, the role of individual differences in verbal aggression) as possible determinants accounting for gender differences in the relationship between psychosocial factors and subclinical carotid artery disease progression. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL056346-07
Application #
6925387
Study Section
Biobehavioral Mechanisms of Emotion, Stress and Health Study Section (MESH)
Program Officer
Czajkowski, Susan
Project Start
1998-05-01
Project End
2006-12-31
Budget Start
2005-07-01
Budget End
2006-06-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$645,476
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Khambaty, Tasneem; Stewart, Jesse C; Muldoon, Matthew F et al. (2014) Depressive symptom clusters as predictors of 6-year increases in insulin resistance: data from the Pittsburgh Healthy Heart Project. Psychosom Med 76:363-9
Kamarck, Thomas W; Shiffman, Saul; Sutton-Tyrrell, Kim et al. (2012) Daily psychological demands are associated with 6-year progression of carotid artery atherosclerosis: the Pittsburgh Healthy Heart Project. Psychosom Med 74:432-9
Beatty, Danielle L; Kamarck, Thomas W; Matthews, Karen A et al. (2011) Childhood socioeconomic status is associated with psychosocial resources in African Americans: the Pittsburgh Healthy Heart Project. Health Psychol 30:472-80
Stewart, Jesse C; Fitzgerald, Griffin J; Kamarck, Thomas W (2010) Hostility now, depression later? Longitudinal associations among emotional risk factors for coronary artery disease. Ann Behav Med 39:258-66
Stewart, Jesse C; Rand, Kevin L; Muldoon, Matthew F et al. (2009) A prospective evaluation of the directionality of the depression-inflammation relationship. Brain Behav Immun 23:936-44
Schott, Laura L; Kamarck, Thomas W; Matthews, Karen A et al. (2009) Is brachial artery flow-mediated dilation associated with negative affect? Int J Behav Med 16:241-7
Stewart, Jesse C; Janicki-Deverts, Denise; Muldoon, Matthew F et al. (2008) Depressive symptoms moderate the influence of hostility on serum interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein. Psychosom Med 70:197-204
Vella, Elizabeth J; Kamarck, Thomas W; Shiffman, Saul (2008) Hostility moderates the effects of social support and intimacy on blood pressure in daily social interactions. Health Psychol 27:S155-62
Kamarck, Thomas W; Muldoon, Matthew F; Shiffman, Saul S et al. (2007) Experiences of demand and control during daily life are predictors of carotid atherosclerotic progression among healthy men. Health Psychol 26:324-32
Stewart, Jesse C; Janicki, Denise L; Muldoon, Matthew F et al. (2007) Negative emotions and 3-year progression of subclinical atherosclerosis. Arch Gen Psychiatry 64:225-33

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