[Effectiveness of early psychological rehabilitation among hospitalized patients with ischemic heart disease].

The subjects of the study were men and women (n=418) suffering from myocardial infarction or angina pectoris and hospitalized in the Cardiological Clinic of Kaunas Medical University during May-June, 2001. In order to assess the possibility to apply measures of psychological rehabilitation in a hospital setting, patients were invited to participate in three group sessions of relaxation (achieved by visualizing certain images). Effectiveness of psychological intervention was assessed by measuring statements indicating presence/absence of type A behavior pattern, depressiveness, and anxiety.