Psychologic profiles as predictors of success in a cardiovascular risk factors life-style intervention program

The risk for cardiovascular events can be reduced by modifications in life-style. However, only a small percentage of subjects are able to adopt such changes. We determined whether psychologic profiles measured on entry into a life-style intervention program correlated with objective measurements of success after 1 year of enrollment. When compared with patients who had dropped out, patients still enrolled in the program after 1 year differed statistically on scales 1 and 6 of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, showing a lower level of paranoia and more concern about health issues. Among patients remaining in the program, psychologic profiles differed between those who met an objective measure of success (responders) and those who did not. In addition, profiles differed among responders as a function of the aspect of life-style that they successfully changed. These findings suggest that psychologic profiles can be used to identify which life-style changes an individual can easily adopt.