Psychosocial risk factors contribute to the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. They are associated with an unhealthy lifestyle, low patient adherence, alterations in autonomic function and endocrine markers. Thus, in cardiac rehabilitation, psychosocial risk factors should be assessed besides somatic factors. Patients with clinically significant symptoms ought to be referred for further psychological diagnostics. Depending on the findings, patients should be offered psychological interventions like relaxation training, stress management courses, smoking cessation programmes and individual counselling. Individual counselling includes psychoeducation, focused interventions and building motivation for further treatment. With regard to evidence-based interventions, motivating communication as well as behaviour and coping planning deserves particular notice. In terms of clinical efficacy, psychological interventions are evaluated and partially effective on cardiac prognosis. Hence, the significance of psychocardiology in inpatient rehabilitation should be enhanced.
Keywords: Psychosocial risk factors; Screening and treatment of psychocardiological.