Intensive psychological rehabilitation improved outcomes at six months in men with recent myocardial infarction who had neurotic, introverted personalities.
RCT (n=143)
Randomly allocated
The value of psychological counselling in rehabilitating patients after myocardial infarction was assessed. A total of 143 men who had recently had a myocardial infarction were randomly allocated to either a group receiving intensive rehabilitation or a control group, their outcome being examined after six months. Patients with neurotic, introverted personalities had a poor outcome in the control group but a satisfactory outcome when rehabilitated. Neurotic personalities responded to help, and rehabilitative measures did not increase neurosis. In addition all patients with a negative attitude towards their illness and future had a poor outcome but those with a positive attitude did well. Selection by simple methods of patients who would benefit from psychological rehabilitation seems desirable.
Naismith et al. (Sat,) conducted a rct in Myocardial infarction (n=143). Intensive psychological rehabilitation vs. Control group was evaluated on Outcome at six months. Intensive psychological rehabilitation improved outcomes at six months in men with recent myocardial infarction who had neurotic, introverted personalities.