title: Psychological interventions for coronary heart disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychological symptoms are strongly associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), and many psychological treatments are offered following cardiac events or procedures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Update the existing Cochrane review to (1) determine the independent effects of psychological interventions in patients with CHD (principal outcome measures included total or cardiac-related mortality, cardiac morbidity, depression, and anxiety) and (2) explore study-level predictors of the impact of these interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The original review searched Cochrane Controleed Trials Register (CCTR, Issue 4, 2001), MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL to December 2001. This was updated by searching the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE and EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL from 2001 to January 2009. In addition, we searched reference lists of papers, and expert advice was sought for the original and update review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trials of psychological interventions compared to usual care, administered by trained staff. Only studies estimating the independent effect of the psychological component with a minimum follow-up of six months. Adults with specific diagnosis of CHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Titles and abstracts of all references screened for eligibility by two reviewers independently; data extracted by the lead author and checked by a second reviewer. Authors contacted where possible to obtain missing information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no strong evidence that psychological intervention reduced total deaths, risk of revascularisation, or non-fatal infarction. Amongst a smaller group of studies reporting cardiac mortality there was a modest positive effect of psychological intervention (relative risk: 0.80 (95% CI 0.64 to 1.00)). Furthermore, psychological intervention did result in small/moderate improvements in depression, standardised mean difference (SMD): -0.21 (95% CI -0.35, -0.08) and anxiety, SMD: -0.25 (95% CI -0.48 to -0.03). Results for mortality indicated some evidence of small-study bias, though results for other outcomes did not. Meta regression analyses revealed four significant predictors of intervention effects on depression were found: (1) an aim to treat type-A behaviours (ß = -0.32, p = 0.03) were more effective than other interventions. In contrast, interventions which (2) aimed to educate patients about cardiac risk factors (ß = 0.23, p = 0.03), (3) included client-led discussion and emotional support as core therapeutic components (ß = 0.31, p < 0.01), or (4) included family members in the treatment process (ß = 0.26, p < 0.01) were significantly less effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychological treatments appear effective in treating psychological symptoms of CHD patients. Uncertainly remains regarding the subgroups of patients who would benefit most from treatment and the characteristics of successful interventions.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Multilevel Modelling, Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol, 2 Priory Road, Bristol, UK, BS8 1TX.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Whalley
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Philippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Shah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ebrahim
authors.forename: Zulian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moxham
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Rod S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000523:psychology*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012086:Reoperation