Effects of a Primary Care-Based Intervention on the Identification and Management of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease and Mental or Cognitive Comorbidity-A Study Protocol.

Mental and cognitive disorders (MCD) negatively affect the incidence and prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD). Medical guidelines recommend the appropriate management of comorbid MCD in patients with CHD, yet there is evidence that the implementation in primary care is not always adequate. We present the protocol for a pilot study that aims to develop a minimally invasive intervention and evaluate its feasibility in the primary care setting to improve the identification and management of comorbid MCD in patients with CHD.

The psychological consequences of living with coronary heart disease: Are patients' psychological needs served? A mixed-method study in Germany.

Introduction: This mixed-method study explores psychological needs, access and barriers in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with and without mental health issues (MHI) within the German healthcare system.

Methods: This study was conducted in three different healthcare settings: two hospitals, two rehabilitation clinics and three cardiology practices in Cologne, Germany. Patients were screened for angiographically documented CHD and other inclusion criteria.

Com-On Questionnaire: Development and validation of a questionnaire for evaluating communication skills of oncologists.

Objective: The present study aimed to develop and validate an instrument for assessing the communication skills of oncology physicians from a patient's point of view.

Methods: A first draft of the questionnaire was compiled based on skills reflecting good physician-patient communication identified in the literature. The questionnaire was critically revised by experts to ensure the validity of its contents.

Detection and treatment of mental disorders in patients with coronary heart disease (MenDis-CHD): A cross-sectional study.

Mental disorders (MD) are associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) and with higher CHD-related morbidity and mortality. There is a strong recommendation to routinely screen CHD patients for MDs, diagnosis, and treatment by recent guidelines. The current study aimed at mapping CHD patients' (1) state of diagnostics and, if necessary, treatment of MDs, (2) trajectories and detection rate in healthcare, and (3) the influence of MDs and its management on quality of life and patient satisfaction.

Comparison of Patient and Proxy Assessment of Patient-Centeredness in the Care of Coronary Heart Disease: A Cross Sectional Survey Using the PACIC-S11.1.

Introduction: When making medical care more patient-centered, surveys on patients' and their relatives' experiences can be helpful in identifying opportunities for improvement. In cases where the targeted patients are unable to express their own perspective, for example, due to them being too young or suffering from severe impairments, proxies can serve as substitutes. Proxies are frequently used in care planning and consent.

Health literacy in persons at risk of and patients with coronary heart disease: A systematic review.

Background: Health literacy (HL) plays a crucial role in the maintenance and improvement of individual health. Empirical findings highlight the relation between a person's HL-level and clinical outcomes. However, the role of HL in persons at risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and patients with CHD has not been researched conclusively.

Quality of health care with regard to detection and treatment of mental disorders in patients with coronary heart disease (MenDis-CHD): study protocol.

Background: Mental disorders (MD), such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment, are highly prevalent in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Current guidelines on cardiovascular diseases recommend screening and appropriate treatment of MD; however, the degree of implementation of such recommendations in clinical practice is unknown. This study aims to analyze the quality of health care of patients with CHD and MD.

Correlation Between the Transplant Evaluation Rating Scale (TERS) and Medical Outcomes in Living-Donor Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Pretransplant psychosocial evaluation of living-donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) candidates identifies recipients with potentially inferior posttransplant outcomes. Rating instruments, based on semi-standardized interviews, help to improve and standardize psychosocial evaluation. The goal of this study was to retrospectively investigate the correlation between the Transplant Evaluation Rating Scale (TERS) and transplant outcome in LDKT recipients.

Hereditary dysautonomias: current knowledge and collaborations for the future.

The hereditary dysautonomias (H-Dys) are a large group of disorders that affect the autonomic nervous system. Research in the field of H-Dys is very challenging, because the disorders involve interdisciplinary, integrative, and "mind-body" connections. Recently, medical scientists, NIH/NINDS representatives, and several patient support groups gathered for the first time in order to discuss recent findings and future directions in the H-Dys field.