[The effect of monotherapy with nifedipine and hydrochlorothiazide on the psychological characteristics and quality of life of hypertension patients].

The study comprised 25 males with Stages I-II hypertensive disease whose age was 35 to 60 years and diastolic blood pressure was 96-114 mm Hg. After 4-week administration of placebo, two groups of treatment were randomized: (1) nifedipine (corinfar), 15-80 mg daily, and (2) hydrochlorothiazide (triampur), 25-100 mg daily, for 12 weeks with subsequent crossover: between therapy course, the patients received placebo during 4 weeks. The psychological examination was performed before the patients' inclusion into the study, at the end of placebo use, 4 and 12 weeks after monotherapy with one of the active drug, by using the "Lifestyle" questionnaire, SMOL and HPPQ. The study showed that a course of therapy with the calcium antagonist nifedipine produced a beneficial effect on the mental status and lifestyle in patients with hypertensive disease, by promoting the improvement of relations between the patients and all those present. Hydrochlorothiazide monotherapy deteriorated the lifestyle in patients by restricting smoking and sexual life and enhanced neurotization in patients, especially in subjects who had no benefits. It has been ascertained that the efficacy of antihypertensive therapy depends on the baseline mental status of hypertensives: higher neurotization may be regarded as a predictor of inefficiency of treatment.