Key result
Psychotherapy and antidepressants show limited evidence of benefit in cardiac patients with mental comorbidities.
Why the study?
Psychosocial factors play a significant role in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis, progression, and treatment, but evidence on psychotherapeutic and antidepressant effectiveness in cardiac patients is limited.
Psychosocial factors play a significant role in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis and prognosis, highlighting the need for early detection and multimodal care despite limited evidence for specific psychiatric interventions.
May warrant individualized approaches for mental comorbidities in cardiac patients; leaves open efficacy of psychotherapies and antidepressants pending better evidence.
In the last decades, psychocardiological knowledge has contributed a lot to the understanding of psychosocial factors involved in the pathogenesis, course, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, psychological, social, and behavioral factors should be detected and addressed early on in order to prevent cardiovascular disease and/or its progression. On the other hand, cardiovascular disease is an important stressor which can lead to psychological comorbidities and thus deteriorate prognosis and quality of life. During therapy a clear, consistent, and empathic communication between professionals and patients is of importance. Up to now there is not much evidence as to the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions or antidepressant medication for cardiac patients with mental comorbidities. Beyond psychosomatic basic care, combined with physical activity, severely ill patients may require multimodal inpatient care in specialized psychosomatic or psychocardiological units and continuous support with lifestyle change.
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Christoph Herrmann‐Lingen (2019) conducted a review in Cardiovascular diseases with psychological comorbidities. Psychotherapeutic interventions or antidepressant medication was evaluated. There is currently limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions or antidepressant medication for cardiac patients with mental comorbidities.
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