Psychocardiology and the Role of the Psychologist in Acquired and Congenital Heart Disease

An overview of psychocardiology and the role of the psychologist in acquired and congenital heart disease has been described. Psychocardiology is a field that refers to the role of clinical psychology in cardiac settings and it is related to the biopsychosocial factors which emerge in the onset, the course, and the rehabilitation of a heart disease. Several psychosocial factors – such as distress, anxiety, type A and type D trait personality, depression, loneliness, and low social support – may influence acquired cardiac disease etiology, morbidity, and prognosis by direct (biological) and/or indirect (behavioral) mediating processes. Congenital heart disease patients and families face a variety of biopsychosocial issues that affect their health-related quality of life and may influence cardiac disease prognosis. Psychologists play a key role in helping the medical team to support patients and their families in the onset, the course, and the rehabilitation of a heart disease. Evidence suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective interventions for cardiac patients with anxiety and depression and that specific interventions are useful for conHD families.