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Despite the general benefits of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in reducing emotional distress in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), prior studies of its benefits in preventing second CVD events have had mixed results at best. In a Swedish study, 362 patients (mean age, 62; mostly men; nearly 90% current or former tobacco users) who recently had been discharged after myocardial infarctions (MIs) or coronary revascularization procedures were randomized to usual care with or without a structured CBT program.
The CBT program involved twenty 2-hour small-group sessions; median attendance at each session was 85%. The CBT program focused on improving stress management and alleviating time urgency and hostility. During a mean follow-up …