The group counseling v exercise therapy study. A controlled intervention with subjects following myocardial infarction

Abstract

One hundred six postmyocardial infarction subjects who either achieved a mean work load of less than seven mets on treadmill testing, who were rated as anxious and/or depressed, or who met both criteria, participated in a controlled study comparing the rehabilitation effectiveness of exercise therapy and group counseling. Each intervention lasted 12 weeks. Follow-up evaluations were scheduled at three months, six months and one year. Exercise substantially increased mean work capacity, decreased fatigue, lessened anxiety and depression, and promoted independence and sociability. Counseling substantially reduced depression and promoted a sense of friendliness, and decreased interpersonal friction as well as greater independence and sociability. The control group reported no substantial change on any measured factor. Neither counseling nor exercise had an effect on mortality though subjects in the exercise group reported fewer major cardiovascular sequelae.

Sexual Counseling for Individuals With Cardiovascular Disease and Their Partners

“…The theoretical frameworks guiding the interventions were drawn from various perspectives, including physical, 118,121,122 psychosocial, 11,19,54,123 medical, 117,119 or a mix of physical and psychosocial perspectives 120 (Table 5). Three studies that included partner dyads focused specifically on sexual counseling interventions, such as physical exercise and social support, specific sexual counseling, and sexual counseling with cognitive behavioral therapy.…”

“…Three studies that included partner dyads focused specifically on sexual counseling interventions, such as physical exercise and social support, specific sexual counseling, and sexual counseling with cognitive behavioral therapy. 54,120,123 The setting of sexual counseling interventions was either in-hospital 117,119,120,123 or started in the hospital and then continued out of the hospital, 54,118,121,122 whereas 2 interventions were implemented completely at home. 11,19 All but 2 interventions 118,121 provided comprehensive quality-of-life perspectives that included provision of verbal information (eg, lecture, dialogue), written information (eg, brochure, booklet), visual information (eg, video, slide presentation), seminar discussions (eg, lifestyle factors, risk factors), and practical training (eg, cooking, physical training, relaxing, stress management).…”

“…11,19,54,120,123 The meeting points and duration of the interventions varied between viewing a 15-minute video on demand, without healthcare professional participation, 19 to participating in 120-minute sessions with the healthcare team twice a week during a 6-month period. 120 A multidisciplinary team was involved (nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, physician, social workers) in the interventions from 5 studies, 54,119,120,122,123 whereas a single healthcare professional (nurse, physician, or physiotherapist) was involved in the remaining interventions. 11,19,117,118,121 …”

Physiological and Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes Following Cardiac Rehabilitation after Cardiac Surgery

“…CR is designed to provide a range of lifestyle and medical interventions to reduce cardiac mortality and morbidity through promotion of a healthy lifestyle and reduction of coronary artery disease risk factors 1)2) . Stern et al 3) reported a positive effect of improving exercise tolerability through aerobic exercise therapy in convalescing cardiac patients, and the beneficial effects have been made clear by many researchers 4)5) . Muscle strength exercise, is also reported to have a beneficial effect.…”

Change in coronary-prone behaviors in the recurrent coronary prevention project.

“…In addition, the RCPP shares the same limitation as other interventions aimed at reducing risk in post-MI subjects: it is a multidimensional treatment program that has provided an incomplete specification of the individual targets that reduce risk. Previous intervention studies were typically aimed at some kind of general stress reduction (6,(16)(17)(18)(19). Reduction of stress symptoms was the primary target of the successful intervention in the IHD Life Stress Monitoring Program (6).…”