Psychological participation in cardiological rehabilitation: an experience of reduction of anxiety states through a psychological group of discussion

The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of a discussion group as a psychological instrument in the field of Cardiological Rehabilitation. This consisted in a one hour and half discussion, lead by a Psychologist with the presence of a nurse of the Service, during which the patients traduced in words the traumatic effects of the surgical operation. In particular, after this psychological intervention we found a reduction of the state anxiety as evaluated through the STAI-X1 Questionnaire, with a test-retest methodology, in a group of 43 patients of the Cardiological Rehabilitation Service of the Castelfranco Hospital in Emilia. These results demonstrate a significant reduction of anxiety, which was more evident in patients with higher initial levels of anxiety.