Cognitive Behavior Therapy Benefits Patients with Heart Disease

In patients with coronary heart disease, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) appears to be associated with lower rates of recurrent acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs) and coronary heart disease events, according to new research in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Psychosocial factors have been shown to account for approximately 30% of the attributable risk of acute myocardial infarction. Emotional factors include anxiety, depression, anger, and hostility, whereas chronic stressors include social support, work or marital stressors, and socioeconomic status. Of the patients, the reference group received traditional care, whereas the intervention group received traditional care and CBT. CBT consisted of 20 two-hour sessions during a year's time where participants learned different methods to manage and reduce stress. Mean follow-up time was 94 months. Use of CBT was associated with lower rates of recurrent and nonfatal and fatal recurrent coronary heart disease events.