Psychosocial outcomes after an MI: An evaluation of two approaches to rehabilitation

This study compared the relative efficacy of two different rehabilitation programmes (one with and one without the Edinburgh Heart Manual) on psychosocial outcome following a first myocardial infarction (MI). A six-month longitudinal design was used to assess changes in the following variables: Locus of control, significant other support, illness perceptions, anxiety, depression and generalized self-efficacy. These variables were also used to predict general practitioner (GP) contact and hospital admissions in the six months following the MI. Patients receiving the manual (N = 45) reported stronger beliefs in their ability to control the illness (p< 0.05) and less depression (p< 0.01) at follow-up, compared with patients receiving a hospital-based exercise and education programme (N = 25). There was no significant difference between the two groups on GP contact and hospital admissions in the six months after the MI. Baseline anxiety predicted GP contact in the six months post-MI (p< 0.001).