Research on the roles played by hostility and anger in the etiology and course of coronary heart disease (CHD) has mushroomed. Moreover, there has been considerable progress in the knowledge of neurohormonal correlates of anger and hostility that could conceivably play a role in the pathogenesis of CHD. The editors of this volume believe that this is the appropriate time in the history of coronary-prone behavior research to take stock -- to identify the basic questions that need further elucidation, and to provide future direction. Although there is a surprising consensus among the contributors about the nature of the critical issues, they each offer a somewhat different perspective. This book will provide a variety of perspectives on what is known and what still needs to be known -- a useful source for promising research hypotheses.

Contents: A.W. Siegman, T.W. Smith, Introduction. A.W. Siegman, From Type A to Hostility to Anger: Reflections on the History of Coronary-Prone Behavior. T.W. Smith, Concepts and Methods in the Study of Anger, Hostility, and Health. J.C. Barefoot, I.M. Lipkus, The Assessment of Anger and Hostility. K.F. Helmers, D.M. Posluszny, D.S. Krantz, Associations of Hostility and Coronary Artery Disease: A Review of Studies. B.K. Houston, Anger, Hostility, and Psychophysiological Reactivity. R.B. Williams, Jr., Basic Biological Mechanisms. J.R. Kaplan, M.B. Botchin, S.B. Manuck, Animal Models of Aggression and Cardiovascular Disease. R.J. Contrada, Personality and Anger in Cardiovascular Disease: Toward a Psychological Model. A.W. Siegman, Cardiovascular Consequences of Expressing and Repressing Anger. I.C. Siegler, Hostility and Risk: Demographic and Lifestyle Variables. C.M. Stoney, T.O. Engebretson, Anger and Hostility: Potential Mediators of the Gender Difference in Coronary Heart Disease. J.L. Deffenbacher, Anger Reduction: Issues, Assessment, and Intervention Strategies.