ИСТИНА

The primary aim of this research is to investigate and compare Quality of Life (QOL) characteristics and Subjective Pattern of Disease (SPD) in patients with Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) undergoing both medical and psychotherapy treatment. This research was conducted in 1993-2011. We examined 290 MVP patients and 73 healthy subjects. 46 patients were treated with Magnerot; 36 MVP patients with anxiety were treated with Alprazolam; 30 patients received placebo; 18 patients attended rational-emotive therapy courses (16 sessions, individual assessments). During 15 years 31 MVP patients took Magnerot within periodical treatment; 14 MVP patients with anxiety attended systemic integrative psychotherapy on request. In 2008-2011 the control diagnostics was conducted for 132 patients who had been included in research groups in 1993-1996. Psychological testing embraced the assessment of “quality of life” indicators by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (“well-being” dimension), the Disability Scale (DISS) (“work”, “social life” and “personal life” dimensions) and The Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being (PWB) as well as qualitative analysis of SPD. MVP patients demonstrated initially lower significant results in all QOL indicators, increased anxiety and a lower level of frustration tolerance in comparison with healthy subjects. According to results, 72,2% MVP patients attended psychotherapy demonstrated valid improvements of QOL self-rating according to VAS, DISS and PWB scales. They had a better ability in recognition of emotional experience, the development of personality reflection and more appropriate SPD. Moreover, medical diagnostics showed a significant reduction in the depth of MVP among patients who had been undergoing a long-term psychotherapy. Keywords: Quality of life, Psychological well-being, Subjective pattern of disease, Mitral valve prolapse, Anxiety disorders.