Occurrence of Painless Myocardial Infarction in Psychotic Patients

Abstract

THAT infarction of the myocardium can occur without pain is a well established fact. To date there is no wholly satisfactory explanation for such occurrences, although several hypotheses merit consideration.^{1 2 3} There are also differences of opinion concerning the frequency of painless myocardial infarction. In recent years clinical studies of both small and large series of cases with myocardial infarction have given the prevalence of painless cases as from less than 1 per cent⁴ to a high of 38 per cent.⁵ Most reports, however, cite a rate somewhere near 10 per cent.The reason for such a large discrepancy primarily concerns . . .