Contributions Toward Evidence-based Psychocardiology : A Systematic Review of the Literature

Although there is extensive research on the psychosocial factors that influence the etiology, progression, and effective treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD), these findings are seldom applied in clinical situations. There are several possible reasons for this, including the questionable quality of some of the research, and a lack of productive dialog between psychologists and physicians. This book aims to correct that situation. The chapters in this volume are based on a systematic meta-analysis of the international literature by 40 German scientists who convened to evaluate the research and discarded all but the highest quality data on psychological aspects of CHD. The result is a collection of chapters that synthesize the most significant findings and indicate productive avenues for intervention and further research. Among the topics covered are: chronic emotional distress in the workplace; psychodynamic research on the etiology, course, and treatment of CHD; smoking cessation - risk reduction and evaluation of interventions; physical inactivity as a risk factor and treatment models; anxiety and depression in CHD patients; type A behavior and hostility as risk factors; chest pain, angina pectoris, panic disorder, and Syndrome X; psychosocial aspects of heart catheterization, coronary angiography, and coronary angioplasty; and stress management, relaxation, and Ornish groups. Summarizing tables are included in the book and in an accompanying website. This book will be an important reference work for health psychologists who work with CHD patients, researchers, and cardiologists and other medical professionals.