Object: Although a series of clinical trials have been tried to reduce psychological symptoms of coronary heart patients, there are little studies attempt to use a comprehensive treatment program. The goal of the present study was to test the hypothesis that applying a package of various treatment strategies in group therapy of coronary heart patients (CHD) reduces their emotional distress, help to change their life style and improve their quality of life. Method: fifteen patients (1o men and 5 women) with CHD were placed in a treatment group, which received weekly group psychotherapy for 3 months. Fourteen patients (12 men and 2 women) were placed in a control group which received only standard medical care. All subjects completed Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) and Health-related quality of life questionnaire (SF36, EuroQuol-5D) before the beginning of group therapy and at the termination of intervention. The manualized intervention program was consisted of stress management, problem solving, assertiveness behavior and relaxation training. The patients also received cognitive – behavior therapy (CBT) in order to change their dysfunctional attitudes and type A personality traits such as perfectionistic tendencies. Results: In compare of control group, in the psychotherapy treatment group, there was a significant reduction in the means of BDI, BAI, DASS and a significant promotion in the mean of SF36 .Conclusion: The results confirm the hypothesis that a comprehensive treatment group therapy is able to decrease emotional problems like depressive and anxiety symptoms. This remission can be attributed to some skills trainings were parts of the applied package .On the other hand , using CBT strategies may be caused change in underlying dysfunctional attitudes and type A behaviors which pervious studies have referred to them as risk factors for heart disease . These positive effects together in turn, probably caused patient’s quality of life promotion after treatment. These findings are supported by a
Substantial literature demonstrating links between heart and mind and remind the necessity of combination psychological and medical care for heart disease patients.