In Denmark, researchers from the Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg hospitals explored how psychotherapy could influence the well being of people with heart disease. The study, reported in the European Journal of Cardiology, focused on a group of patients whose hearts had already faced problems serious enough to warrant hospitalization. The core discovery was clear: cognitive behavioral therapy offered relief from anxiety and depression that often accompany cardiovascular conditions, and it did so in a way that helped patients manage their hearts more effectively over time. This is a finding that adds a new dimension to cardiac care by linking mental health treatment to tangible physical health benefits and a more hopeful outlook for patients facing complex medical journeys.
The investigation followed 147 adults who were admitted to hospital for heart-related issues and then diagnosed with anxiety or depressive disorders. The participants were balanced for sex and had a mean age in the mid-fifties. They were randomly assigned to either continue with standard care or participate in a structured cognitive behavioral therapy program in addition to their usual medical treatment. The CBT sessions addressed patterns of thought that contribute to stress and negative moods, teaching practical strategies to challenge unhelpful beliefs, cope with symptoms, and maintain a more resilient daily routine. Over the course of the study, clinicians and researchers tracked a range of outcomes, including psychological well-being, adherence to prescribed medications, frequency of hospital readmissions, and overall quality of life.
Three months in, those receiving cognitive behavioral therapy showed markedly better scores on psychological assessments compared with the control group. The gains persisted at six months, underscoring the durability of CBT effects in this population. Beyond mental health improvements, participants in the CBT group demonstrated higher consistency in taking their medications as prescribed, were less likely to require additional hospitalization for heart problems, and reported a more favorable overall quality of life. These patterns suggest that addressing anxiety and depression through structured therapy can have a meaningful, cascading impact on heart health and daily living. The implications for clinical practice are meaningful: when designing cardiac rehabilitation programs, healthcare providers should incorporate routine screening for mood disorders and consider offering CBT as a complementary treatment option for those who screen positive.
Taken together, the findings indicate that a comprehensive approach to cardiac rehabilitation should include mental health evaluation as a standard step. If anxiety or depression is identified, cognitive behavioral therapy can be a valuable component of the treatment plan. This aligns with a growing body of evidence that supports integrating psychological support into cardiovascular care to improve adherence, reduce hospitalizations, and enhance overall well being for patients facing heart disease, in both Canada and the United States as well as other regions. This approach emphasizes that heart health and mental health are closely connected, and that improving one area can positively influence the other, ultimately contributing to a more complete and effective path toward recovery and long-term wellness. European Journal of Cardiology