Overview
Anxiety and depression are associated with work disability, lower participation rate in cardiac rehabilitation and unfavourable life style changes following a coronary heart disease (CHD) event. The prevalence of clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety in CHD patients has been estimated to 30-50%. Furthermore, depression and anxiety are associated with a significant increased risk of subsequent major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality in CHD patients. Psychological interventions for anxiety and depression in CHD patients have demonstrated small and uncertain effects of symptoms, and no effect on cardiovascular outcomes. Therefore, testing the effectiveness of specific psychological interventions that may affect central mechanisms for cardiovascular outcomes, has been requested. The Attention training (ATT) Study is a randomized controlled trial comparing group-attention training to wait-list control in 64 patients who experience significant anxiety and depression after a CHD event. It will also be explored whether reduction in psychological symptoms is correlated with changes in biological markers with a potential link to cardiovascular outcomes.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Established coronary heart disease as main somatic disease
- >=8 on either HADS-anxiety or depression subscale
- Age 18 - 65 years
- The ability to understand and speak Norwegian language,
- Willingness and ability to give informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Current or past neurological illness
- Traumatic brain injury
- Current alcohol and/or substance dependency disorders
- Psychotic disorders
- Bipolar disorders
- Developmental disorders
- Mental retardation
- Cognitive impairment which precludes informed consent/ability to participate
- Acute suicidality
- Life-expectancy less than 12 months
- Concurrent psychological intervention for emotional distress
- Antidepressant or anxiolytic medication initiated during previous 8 weeks