Illness perceptions as predictive factors for anxiety and depression symptoms among patients with coronary heart disease

• Pessimistic illness perceptions were associated with higher anxiety and depressive symptoms. • Lower personal control, lower treatment control, and greater symptom burden significantly predicted depressive symptoms. • Perceived lower personal control and higher emotional representation were the significant predictors of higher anxiety symptoms. This study aimed to describe illness perception (IP) in Jordanian patients with CHD and to examine the role of IP domains in predicting anxiety and depressive symptoms in Jordanian patients with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). In a cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of 193 patients with CHD, who visited the cardiac clinic for routine follow-up completed the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Participants perceived CHD as a chronic condition with moderate negative consequences, and they were highly concerned about their illness. Illness perceptions domains were significantly associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Personal control, treatment control, and disease identity were significant predictors of depressive symptoms, while personal control and emotional representation were significant predictors of anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: Findings indicate that negative illness perceptions are strongly associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Study findings suggest that interventions targeting personal control, treatment control, identity, and emotional representation could improve CHD patients’ mental well-being.