Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Less stress cuts cardiac events

Less stress cuts cardiac eventsA cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programme to help people with heart disease to manage their stress levels reduces their likelihood of suffering a cardiovascular event, say researchers. Their study, published in Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that CBT might need to be continued for 6-12 months to be effective. Researchers randomised 362 men and women, who had all been hospitalised for a coronary heart disease event in the previous 12 months, to either usual care or to CBT. People in the CBT group had 20 two-hour sessions over a year, which concentrated on how to reduce, manage and cope with stress. The programme had five specific components – education, self-monitoring, skills training, cognitive restructuring and spiritual development. Groups were kept small and men and women attended separate groups from one another

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