Cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation in patients with cardiovascular diseases: a randomized controlled trial

Background: The risk that the main goals of medical rehabilitation – return to work and self-determined participation – are not achieved is increased for people with cardiovascular disease and mental impairments. Mental impairments in patients with cardiovascular disease should therefore be recognized and treated early on in medical rehabilitation. Cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation was developed in Germany to ensure this and intensifies the usual rehabilitation programs due to musculoskeletal disorders, cancer or cardiovascular disease with additional psychological interventions and exercise therapy. Although cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation was developed as a generic approach, the existing studies on the effects of cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation are mainly limited to the rehabilitation due to musculoskeletal disorders. Our randomized controlled trial examines the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation in comparison to conventional rehabilitation in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Participants are randomly assigned to a four-week cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation or a four-week conventional cardiac rehabilitation. We include patients aged 18-65 years with cardiovascular disease and mild or moderate mental illness or stress or exhaustion. The primary outcome is cardiac anxiety assessed with the German 17-item version of the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire.