Anxiety, depression, and psychological adjustment after an acute cardiac event

Abstract

Psychological adjustment following acute cardiac events such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABGS) has received increasing attention in the last three decades. While physical recovery remains the highest priority, psychological recovery is now considered a primary concern for health professionals working in cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention. The prevalence of anxiety and depression in people who have had a cardiac event is up to four times higher than in the general population. Post-event anxiety and depression both confer an increased mortality risk, highlighting the importance of identifying these patients early in order to ensu..