It turns out patients who are consistently distressed don't respond well to implantable cardioverter defibrillators, according to a study of 383 patients in the Netherlands. Researchers from the Thoraxcenter at Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam found that patients who have "Type D" personalities (worriers, irritable, gloomy, fearful of sharing negative thoughts) ended up in worse health than other patients after having the devices implanted. What's worse, patients who fit the negative personality type needed their devices to shock their hearts back to normal rhythm within a year of the procedure were in worse health than their happier counterparts. The scientists say the finding shows patients with the implants must also be assessed for their emotional well-being in order to boost how well they survive. Details of the study are published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. Release