The author reviews concepts important to understanding the emotional
causes of sudden death, which occurs in the psychological setting of
hopelessness, powerlessness, and intense emotions. The cardiovascular
system responds to stress in a way that makes sudden death more likely.
Studies pertinent to the effect of stress on blood pressure and arrhythmia
in animals and man indicate that sudden death as a response to stress can
occur only when certain factors are present simultaneously. Collaboration
between psychiatrists and cardiologists is necessary for further progress
in this field.Abstract Teaser