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Investigators:
Dr Marian Worcester, Dr Peter Elliott, Ms Rosemary Higgins, Dr Barbara Murphy, Dr Alan Goble, Heart Research Centre; Professor Erika Froelicher, University of California; Ms Fiona Mitchell, Heart Research Centre; Professor James Tatoulis, Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit and Dr Leeanne Grigg, Cardiology Department, The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Background
Cardiac
rehabilitation programs can achieve much. However, their primary focus is upon
helping patients recover through participation in exercise and education
groups. Patients learn about which lifestyle changes they should make, and why.
However, awareness is one thing. Studies show that behaviour change does not
necessarily follow. Unfortunately, too many cardiac patients return to their
former unhealthy lifestyles some months after their hospital discharge. Cardiac
rehabilitation programs, which typically last only about six weeks, do not
teach patients how to change their health behaviours, although they can help to
initiate the process of change.
Cognitive
behaviour therapy
Cognitive
behaviour therapy (CBT) goes to the very root of this struggle to
change behaviour. It has vital relevance to both primary and secondary
prevention of heart disease. It is an approach which helps to equip patients
with the necessary skills to change and maintain healthier behaviours. CBTCBT also helps people modify their negative
thoughts, enabling them to improve their emotional state and reduce the
cognitive and emotional barriers, including depression, which inhibit behaviour
change. teaches skills such as decision making,
confidence building, coping with stress, maximising social support and relapse
prevention.
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