Less stress cuts cardiac events

A 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