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 .
Brief strategic therapy in first myocardial infarction patients with increased levels of stress: a randomized clinical trial
Background : Little is known about the impact of interventions targeting chronic stress levels on clinical outcomes among myocardial infa rct ion ( MI ) patients with increased levels of stress . Objectives : To examine the impact of the addition of brief strategic therapy ( BST ) to usual care ( UC ) on clinical outcomes in first MI patients with increased levels of stress . Design : Eighty-one patients were r and omly assigned to  BST in conjunction with UC ( medical treatment , risk factor information , and guidance on unhealthy behavior change ) or to UC . Methods : The outcome measures were scores on the Perceived Stress Scale , reinfa rct ion and cardiac mortality rates , and scores on the Health Survey . Measures were taken before , post-treatment , and at two follow-ups . Results : Patients subjected to BST showed reduced perceived stress at post-treatment and maintained decreased levels at follow-ups . At 1-year follow-up , they had a lower rate of non-fatal reinfa rct ion , and at 2.5-year follow-up , they had a lower rate of fatal reinfa rct ion . Their mental and physical health was improved at post-treatment and this was sustained at follow-ups . Conclusion : The addition of BST to UC favorably influences the disease course after MI in patients with increased levels of stress
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 .