Petra Bagdi
National Centre for Spinal Disorders, Hungary
Title: Psychological interventions with cardiac patients
Biography
Biography: Petra Bagdi
Abstract
There are different types of psychological interventions (e.g. psycho-education, behavioral therapy, cognitive therapies, supportive therapies) applied as part of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programs. The purposes of psychological interventions are to (1) screen psychological predictors of risk, such as anxiety, depression; (2) facilitate a return to normal living; (3) encourage patients to make lifestyle changes in order to prevent further events. A meta-analysis of 8,988 patients in 37 trials found that cardiac rehabilitation programs including psychological interventions resulted in a 34% reduction in cardiac mortality and a 29% reduction in recurrent MI at 1-10 years follow up.
Psychological interventions seem to be effective enhancing recovery rate. These findings emphasize the roll of psychologists in the prevention and rehabilitation of cardiac diseases.