Can psychological interventions affect cardiac rehabilitation patients’ well-being? Preliminary results from a longitudinal study

Background: Research has explored the link between psychological factors and cardiovascular diseases [CVDs], with a focus on identifying predictors of these disorders. Cardiac Rehabilitation [CR] is crucial for heart disease patients, particularly those with psychological comorbidities, as it helps...

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Main Authors: Elisa Zambetti, Maura Crepaldi, Fiorella Lanfranchi, Emanuela Zenoni, Irene Bariletti, Francesco Quarenghi, Luigina Viscardi, Ginevra Rizzola, Valentina Regazzoni, Alessandra Bigoni, Francesca Brivio, Irma Maria Soddu, Massimiliano Anselmi Kaiser, Vittorio Giudici, Andrea Greco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:International Journal of Cardiology. Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772487525001126
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author Elisa Zambetti
Maura Crepaldi
Fiorella Lanfranchi
Emanuela Zenoni
Irene Bariletti
Francesco Quarenghi
Luigina Viscardi
Ginevra Rizzola
Valentina Regazzoni
Alessandra Bigoni
Francesca Brivio
Irma Maria Soddu
Massimiliano Anselmi Kaiser
Vittorio Giudici
Andrea Greco
author_facet Elisa Zambetti
Maura Crepaldi
Fiorella Lanfranchi
Emanuela Zenoni
Irene Bariletti
Francesco Quarenghi
Luigina Viscardi
Ginevra Rizzola
Valentina Regazzoni
Alessandra Bigoni
Francesca Brivio
Irma Maria Soddu
Massimiliano Anselmi Kaiser
Vittorio Giudici
Andrea Greco
author_sort Elisa Zambetti
collection DOAJ
description Background: Research has explored the link between psychological factors and cardiovascular diseases [CVDs], with a focus on identifying predictors of these disorders. Cardiac Rehabilitation [CR] is crucial for heart disease patients, particularly those with psychological comorbidities, as it helps in self-care and understanding their condition. This study aims to compare the psychological health of CVD patients – in terms of anxiety, depression, and illness perception – before (baseline, T0) and after (over time, T1) multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation treatment, considering the effects of different psychological interventions (psychoeducational group, progressive muscle relaxation training, and individual counseling). Methods: A total of 181 patients with acute coronary syndrome [ACS], cardiac decompensation [CD], or cardiac surgery [CS], participated in a rehabilitation program between January and August 2023. Self-report questionnaires were used to investigate levels of anxiety, depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and illness perception (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire) at T0 and T1. Results: Statistically significant changes were found over time. Individual counseling led to significant reductions in depression and anxiety, and improved illness perception. Anxiety levels were also influenced by the type of cardiovascular disease and by the presence or absence of physical comorbidity. Conclusions: The study highlights significant improvements in levels of anxiety, depression, and illness perception from T0 to T1. Individual counseling is the most high-impact psychological intervention. These findings show the importance of psychological interventions in enhancing CVD patients’ psychological and physical well-being.
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spelling doaj-art-0aafcecb4e9b4e5384cb141deeee1c612025-08-24T05:15:26ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Cardiology. Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention2772-48752025-09-012620047410.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200474Can psychological interventions affect cardiac rehabilitation patients’ well-being? Preliminary results from a longitudinal studyElisa Zambetti0Maura Crepaldi1Fiorella Lanfranchi2Emanuela Zenoni3Irene Bariletti4Francesco Quarenghi5Luigina Viscardi6Ginevra Rizzola7Valentina Regazzoni8Alessandra Bigoni9Francesca Brivio10Irma Maria Soddu11Massimiliano Anselmi Kaiser12Vittorio Giudici13Andrea Greco14University of Bergamo, Department of Human and Social Sciences, Piazzale S. Agostino, 2, 24129, Bergamo, ItalyUniversity of Bergamo, Department of Human and Social Sciences, Piazzale S. Agostino, 2, 24129, Bergamo, Italy; Corresponding author. Piazzale S. Agostino 2, 24129, Bergamo, Italy.ASST Bergamo Est, Simple Departmental Unit of Psychology, Bolognini Hospital, Via Paderno, 21, Seriate, 24068, Bergamo, ItalyASST Bergamo Est, Simple Departmental Unit of Psychology, Bolognini Hospital, Via Paderno, 21, Seriate, 24068, Bergamo, ItalyASST Bergamo Est, Simple Departmental Unit of Psychology, Bolognini Hospital, Via Paderno, 21, Seriate, 24068, Bergamo, ItalyASST Bergamo Est, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Specialist Operating Unit, Bolognini Hospital, Via Paderno, 21, Seriate, 24068, Bergamo, ItalyASST Bergamo Est, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Specialist Operating Unit, Bolognini Hospital, Via Paderno, 21, Seriate, 24068, Bergamo, ItalyASST Bergamo Est, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Specialist Operating Unit, Bolognini Hospital, Via Paderno, 21, Seriate, 24068, Bergamo, ItalyASST Bergamo Est, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Specialist Operating Unit, Bolognini Hospital, Via Paderno, 21, Seriate, 24068, Bergamo, ItalyUniversity of Bergamo, Department of Human and Social Sciences, Piazzale S. Agostino, 2, 24129, Bergamo, ItalyUniversity of Bergamo, Department of Human and Social Sciences, Piazzale S. Agostino, 2, 24129, Bergamo, ItalyUniversity of Bergamo, Department of Human and Social Sciences, Piazzale S. Agostino, 2, 24129, Bergamo, ItalyUniversity of Bergamo, Department of Human and Social Sciences, Piazzale S. Agostino, 2, 24129, Bergamo, ItalyASST Bergamo Est, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Specialist Operating Unit, Bolognini Hospital, Via Paderno, 21, Seriate, 24068, Bergamo, ItalyUniversity of Bergamo, Department of Human and Social Sciences, Piazzale S. Agostino, 2, 24129, Bergamo, ItalyBackground: Research has explored the link between psychological factors and cardiovascular diseases [CVDs], with a focus on identifying predictors of these disorders. Cardiac Rehabilitation [CR] is crucial for heart disease patients, particularly those with psychological comorbidities, as it helps in self-care and understanding their condition. This study aims to compare the psychological health of CVD patients – in terms of anxiety, depression, and illness perception – before (baseline, T0) and after (over time, T1) multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation treatment, considering the effects of different psychological interventions (psychoeducational group, progressive muscle relaxation training, and individual counseling). Methods: A total of 181 patients with acute coronary syndrome [ACS], cardiac decompensation [CD], or cardiac surgery [CS], participated in a rehabilitation program between January and August 2023. Self-report questionnaires were used to investigate levels of anxiety, depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and illness perception (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire) at T0 and T1. Results: Statistically significant changes were found over time. Individual counseling led to significant reductions in depression and anxiety, and improved illness perception. Anxiety levels were also influenced by the type of cardiovascular disease and by the presence or absence of physical comorbidity. Conclusions: The study highlights significant improvements in levels of anxiety, depression, and illness perception from T0 to T1. Individual counseling is the most high-impact psychological intervention. These findings show the importance of psychological interventions in enhancing CVD patients’ psychological and physical well-being.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772487525001126Cardiovascular diseaseCardiac rehabilitationPsychological interventionPsychological well-beingLongitudinal research
spellingShingle Elisa Zambetti
Maura Crepaldi
Fiorella Lanfranchi
Emanuela Zenoni
Irene Bariletti
Francesco Quarenghi
Luigina Viscardi
Ginevra Rizzola
Valentina Regazzoni
Alessandra Bigoni
Francesca Brivio
Irma Maria Soddu
Massimiliano Anselmi Kaiser
Vittorio Giudici
Andrea Greco
Can psychological interventions affect cardiac rehabilitation patients’ well-being? Preliminary results from a longitudinal study
International Journal of Cardiology. Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention
Cardiovascular disease
Cardiac rehabilitation
Psychological intervention
Psychological well-being
Longitudinal research
title Can psychological interventions affect cardiac rehabilitation patients’ well-being? Preliminary results from a longitudinal study
title_full Can psychological interventions affect cardiac rehabilitation patients’ well-being? Preliminary results from a longitudinal study
title_fullStr Can psychological interventions affect cardiac rehabilitation patients’ well-being? Preliminary results from a longitudinal study
title_full_unstemmed Can psychological interventions affect cardiac rehabilitation patients’ well-being? Preliminary results from a longitudinal study
title_short Can psychological interventions affect cardiac rehabilitation patients’ well-being? Preliminary results from a longitudinal study
title_sort can psychological interventions affect cardiac rehabilitation patients well being preliminary results from a longitudinal study
topic Cardiovascular disease
Cardiac rehabilitation
Psychological intervention
Psychological well-being
Longitudinal research
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772487525001126
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