Functional Electrocardiographic Abnormalities

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Abstract
As a result of increasing routine clinical use of electrocardiography, scattered reports have appeared in the literature of RST-segment and T-wave abnormalities occurring in younger patients in the absence of demonstrable cardiovascular disease.1 2 3 Transient electrocardiographic abnormalities of this type have been related to fear, anxiety and emotional stress.4 5 6 7 Reassurance and sedation, as well as the use of anticholinergic substances2 and ergotamine tartrate,8 have resulted in a prompt return of the tracings to normal when such further studies were carried out. Epinephrine,9 acetylcholine,7 hyperventilation,10 the anticipation of painful procedures9 and discussion of distressing topics5 have been found capable of inducing isolated . . .