PSYCHOLOGICAL REHABILITATION AFTER MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

The value of psychological counselling in rehabilitating patients after myocardial infarction was assessed. A total of 143 men who had recently had a myocardial infarction were randomly allocated to either a group receiving intensive rehabilitation or a control group, their outcome being examined after six months. Patients with neurotic, introverted personalities had a poor outcome in the control group but a satisfactory outcome when rehabilitated. Neurotic personalities responded to help, and rehabilitative measures did not increase neurosis. In addition all patients with a negative attitude towards their illness and future had a poor outcome but those with a positive attitude did well. Selection by simple methods of patients who would benefit from psychological rehabilitation seems desirable. Psychological rehabilitation may be satisfactorily carried out by a specifically trained nurse counsellor attached to a hospital where she works closely with the physician but with close liaison with the general practitioner for follow-up in the community. © 1979, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.