Conclusions We found that psychological intervention  improved psychological symptoms and reduced cardiac mortality for people with CHD .
However , there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the magnitude of these effects and the specific techniques most likely to benefit people with different presentations of CHD
Background Although psychological interventions are recommended for the management of coronary heart disease ( CHD ) , there remains considerable uncertainty regarding their effectiveness .
Psychic effects of physical training and relaxation therapy after myocardial infarction.
The psychological impact of exercise training and relaxation therapy was investigated in 156 myocardial infa rct ion patients . They were r and omly assigned to either exercise plus relaxation and breathing therapy ( Treatment A : n = 76 ) or exercise training only ( Treatment B : n = 80 ) . Patients in Treatment A improved on three out of eight psychological measurements ( anxiety , well-being , feelings of invalidity ) . No change was demonstrable in Treatment B. The difference between the treatments was significant for wellbeing ( p less than 0.005 ) . Physical outcome , measured by exercise testing was positive in about half of the patients ( Treatment A : 55 % , Treatment B : 46 % ) . A negative outcome occurred less in Treatment A ( p less than 0.05 ) . Training success was not associated with psychic benefit . The association differed for the two treatments . It was concluded that exercise training was effective for some but not for all cardiac patients , and that a psychic effect of exercise could not be demonstrated . Relaxation therapy enhanced physical and psychic outcome of rehabilitation
Conclusions We found that psychological intervention  improved psychological symptoms and reduced cardiac mortality for people with CHD .
However , there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the magnitude of these effects and the specific techniques most likely to benefit people with different presentations of CHD
Background Although psychological interventions are recommended for the management of coronary heart disease ( CHD ) , there remains considerable uncertainty regarding their effectiveness .