Cardiac rehabilitation: Need for psychological input?

Abstract

The main targets of cardiac rehabilitation - quality of life and secondary prevention -can only be reached if psychological factors are seriously taken into account. Results of comprehensive intervention studies suggest that both levelsof cardiac: mortality and of progressioll of coronary atherosclerosis can be improved. It is argued that psychological techniques are essential ingredients of these treatment packages and that psychological treatment should be offered to patients in need of and suited for psychological interventions.