It is estimated that one in three people experience comorbid mental health issues after a heart attack. However, there is limited information available about the specific types of problems or how healthcare services can better meet the psychological needs of heart patients. Our primary aim is to better understand how heart disease can potentially trigger psychological problems. As part of our research, we will investigate how heart diseases can activate stress-related disturbances and reactions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
This is an interview study of a strategic selection of participants (n=78) who have suffered a heart attack and reported significant symptom levels in Tromsø7, or have received treatment for a heart attack at the University Hospitals in Northern Norway or Akershus. We carried out qualitative and diagnostic interviews to: (i) establish knowledge about the prevalence of stress-related disorders among heart patients, (ii) investigate how comorbid mental disorders affect rehabilitation, and (iii) find ways by which cardiac rehabilitation programs can better address mental health problems, as per the feedback of patients/participants who have undergone treatment for heart disease.
