Best practice in psychological activities in cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation: Position Paper

Submitted: May 16, 2018
Accepted: June 10, 2018
Published: July 2, 2018
Abstract Views: 4490
PDF: 2226
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Authors

Recent guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention suggest multimodal behavioral interventions for psychosocial risk factors and referral for psychotherapy in the case of clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety overall. Accordingly, psychologists of the Italian Association for Cardiovascular Prevention, Rehabilitation and Epidemiology (GICR-IACPR) have reviewed the key components of psychological activities in cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation (CPR). The aim of this study was to elaborate a position paper on the best practice in routine psychological activities in CPR based on efficacy, effectiveness and sustainability. The steps followed were: i) a review of the latest international guidelines and position papers; ii) analysis of the evidence-based literature; iii) a qualitative analysis of the psychological services operating in some reference Italian cardiac rehabilitation facilities; iv) classification of the psychological activities in CPR as low or high intensity based on the NICE Guidelines on psychological interventions on anxiety and depression. We confirm the existence of an association between depression, anxiety, social factors, stress, personality and illness onset/outcome and coronary heart disease. Evidence for an association between depression, social factors and disease outcome emerges particularly for chronic heart failure. Some positive psychological variables (e.g., optimism) are associated to illness outcome. Evidence is reported on the impact of psychological activities on ‘new’ conditions which are now indicated for cardiac rehabilitation: pulmonary hypertension, grown-up congenital heart, end-stage heart failure, implantable cardioverter-defribrillator and mechanical ventricular assist devices, frail and oldest-old patients, and end-of-life care. We also report evidence related to caregivers. The Panel divided evidence-based psychological interventions into: i) low intensity (counseling, psycho-education, self-care, self-management, telemedicine, self-help); or ii) high intensity (individual, couples and/or family and group psychotherapy, such as stress management). The results show that psychotherapy is mainly consisting of cognitive-behavior therapy, interpersonal therapy, and short-term psycho-dynamic therapy. The current data further refine the working tools available for psychological activities in CPR, giving clear directions about the choice of interventions, which should be evidence-based and have at least a minimum standard. This document provides a comprehensive update on new knowledge and new paths for psychologists working in the CPR settings.

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Citations

Marinella Sommaruga, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Milan, Psychology Unit

Psychology Unit

Elisabetta Angelino, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Turin, Psychology Unit
 

Psychology Unit

 
Paola Della Porta, FERB Onlus Rehabilitation Center of Cernusco sul Naviglio
Psychologist at FERB Onlus Rehabilitation Center
Gianluigi Balestroni, Psychology Unit, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Veruno

Psychology Unit

Edward Callus, Polyclinic San Donato IRCCS, Clinical Psychology Service
Clinical Psychology Service
Ombretta Omodeo, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Pavia, Psychology Unit

Psychology Unit

Paolo Michielin, University of Padua, Department of Psychology
Dipartimento di Psicologia
Marco Ambrosetti, Le Terrazze Clinic, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Unit
Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Unit
Roberto F.E. Pedretti, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Pavia, Department of Cardiology
Dipartimento di Cardiologia
Antonia Pierobon, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS Montescano, Psychology Unit
Psychology Unit

How to Cite

Sommaruga, Marinella, Elisabetta Angelino, Paola Della Porta, Mara Abatello, Giacomo Baiardo, Gianluigi Balestroni, Ornella Bettinardi, Edward Callus, Chiara Ciracì, Ombretta Omodeo, Claudia Rizza, Paolo Michielin, Marco Ambrosetti, Raffaele Griffo, Roberto F.E. Pedretti, and Antonia Pierobon. 2018. “Best Practice in Psychological Activities in Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation: Position Paper”. Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease 88 (2). https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2018.966.