HEART attack patients who worry about their condition are more likely to survive than those who are not so anxious, new research says.

A study by Australia’s Black Dog Institute, which specialises in mood disorders and depression, found worrying was normal and constructive.

Gordon Parker, executive director of the institute, said people with general anxiety disorder were commonly told to “stop worrying” in case they “worry themselves to their grave”.

But a study of almost 500 in hospital with acute coronary syndrome challenged the more commonly published medical findings that patients with anxiety and depression in these cases were worse off. The study was first published in the US under the title: The Impact of Differing Anxiety Disorders on Outcome Following an Acute Coronary Syndrome; Time to Start Worrying.

“The interesting outcome from our study is that having GAD may be ‘protective’ and be associated with an improved cardiac outcome for patients,’’ Professor Parker said.

“If GAD encourages people with a cardiac condition to attend to their health priorities, its association with a somewhat superior post-cardiac outcome in this study is constructive.”

Monash University professor David Clarke, research adviser for depression initiative Beyondblue, said: ‘‘This result is a little bit out of the blue because it contradicts what is generally accepted … that depression and anxiety are risk factors for getting heart disease.

‘‘It is very interesting to show that a certain amount of anxiety is helpful in certain circumstances.’’ he said.

‘‘We certainly need to look at this finding and replicate it.’‘

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MATTHEW BENNS