This study examined whether patients attending cardiac rehabilitation (CR) based on the pedagogical strategy learning and coping (LC) led to improved health-related quality of life (HRQL), reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression and improved self-management 6 and 12 months after the completion of CR compared with patients attending CR based on…

Objective: Racial/ethnic minorities experience disproportionately greater risk to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study examined racial/ethnic discrimination--as a psychosocial stressor--in a path model and its associations with CVD health risk factors among undergraduate students of color (SoC). Participants: The sample included 404 SoC…

Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease as well as a reduction in psychosocial well-being. The objective of this study was to create and implement an innovative intervention that would address the health needs of overweight postmenopausal women. In this virtual pilot project, named Integrative Intervention with…

Objective: Biological and psychological factors contribute to coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between spiritual well-being and CAD severity and determine the mediating effects of anger rumination and worry on this relationship. Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional survey. Setting: Afshar…

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in paediatric patients following cardiac surgery has been well reported. Patients with Williams syndrome often require surgical intervention to correct congenital cardiovascular abnormalities and typically present with pre-existing interfering symptoms of anxiety. These patients may be at an…

Introduction: Children and young adults with Down syndrome can demonstrate increased behavior problems compared to their typically developing peers through childhood and adolescence. This study aims to: (1) identify common patterns of behaviors in children and young adults with Down syndrome and (2) assess potential medical comorbidities that…

Over the past forty years, considerable attention and funding has been spent to improve the health status of Kanaka ?Oiwi. While gains have been made, Kanaka 'Oiwi continue to experience an average life span ten years shorter than that of the general population (Wu et al. 2017). This is caused in part by non-communicable diseases such as diabetes,…

This article discusses the use of beta-blockers by performing artists, the reasons why they are taken, and the potential associated risks. We argue that there are high levels of usage within sectors of the professional performing arts community and that there may be high levels of risk in using these medications, particularly without medical…

Background: Depression, anxiety, diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors are frequent health problems among older people with intellectual disability (ID). These conditions may be bidirectionally related. Depression and anxiety may have biological effects causing glucose intolerance, fat accumulation and also lifestyle changes causing metabolic…

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) measures anxiety and depressive symptoms and is widely used in clinical and nonclinical populations. However, there is some debate about the number of dimensions represented by the HADS. In a sample of 534 Dutch cardiac patients, this study examined (a) the dimensionality of the HADS using Mokken…

This article presents a brief group psychoeducational treatment for non-cardiac chest pain, supplemented with a composite case study. Patients present to emergency rooms for chest pain they believe is a heart attack symptom. When cardiac testing is negative, this pain is usually a panic symptom, often occurring with a cluster of other panic…

Purpose: Despite the growing evidence for effects of religious factors on cardiac health in general populations, findings are not always consistent in sicker and older populations. We previously demonstrated that short-term negative outcomes (depression and anxiety) among older adults following open heart surgery are partially alleviated when…

On the basis of current epidemiological and clinical research, this article describes how mental health symptoms are associated with heart disease, a major chronic condition that occurs primarily in middle and late life. The article describes the culturally and historically important link between heart and mind. It then describes depression and…

Medically ill patients face unique physical and emotional challenges that place them at increased risk for symptoms of depression and anxiety. Despite high prevalence and significant impact, depression and anxiety are infrequently treated in the medically ill because of a variety of patient, provider, and system factors. The current article…

Classroom discussion of the classic article by Walter B. Cannon in 1914, entitled "The emergency function of the adrenal medulla in pain and the major emotions," is an excellent tool to teach graduate students the interaction between stress, emotions, and cardiovascular function. Using this article, we are able to review important early research…