| Abstract: | 70 patients with a first heart attack were randomized into a treatment or a control group. Treated patients were seen almost every day during hospitalization for psychotherapy to facilitate coping and to unearth psychological resources and hidden strengths. Data collected on all Ss showed significant differences in favor of the treated on the following variables: days in intensive care and in the hospital; development of supraventricular arrhythmias and congestive heart failure; nurses' observations of weakness; physician report of depression; self-report of surgency; social affection and vigor; presence of either extreme anxiety or extreme lack of anxiety; and, at a 4-mo follow-up, residual fears as well as inability to return to normal activity. Mechanisms to explain these results are offered, including action of catecholamines, mobilization of psychological energy and active coping to counteract the "sick role," and feedback of information to provide a more accurate and wide-angled cognitive map. Recommendations are made for systematic application of this treatment with hospital patients. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
