Psychological interventions and coronary heart disease

Epidemiological studies have shown psychological ill-being to be a strong and independent risk factor for both the development and worsening prognosis of coronary heart disease. Psychological intervention trials have attempted to decrease psychological ill-being in order to improve cardiovascular outcomes. Results from these studies, however, are mixed. Evidence from recent epidemiological studies suggests that psychological health assets (also known as positive psychological factors) independently promote cardiovascular health. Despite these promising findings, intervention studies have yet to examine how enhancing these psychological health assets might contribute to increased cardiovascular well-being. Therefore, we argue for an expanded focus on psychological health assets in our conceptualization of the relationship between psychological functioning and cardiovascular health. We examine this expanded focus by reviewing past psychological intervention trials (aimed at reducing psychological ill-being), recent epidemiological studies prospectively linking psychological health assets to cardiovascular health, and psychological health asset interventions. Further exploring this knowledge gap is important because it may eventually lead to innovative avenues of prevention and intervention.