Management after Myocardial Infarction: A Controlled Trial of the Effect of Group Psychotherapy

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Abstract
A controlled clinical trial was conducted to determine the feasibility of offering group psychotherapy to post-myocardial infarction patients for one year, and to test its effects upon prognosis. Shortly after discharge from a coronary care unit, 118 patients were approximately equally allocated to therapy and control groups. The acceptance, the average attendance at the weekly sessions, and the drop-out rates per cent were 84, 69 and 15.5 respectively. No statistically significant changes were shown in the physiological and psychological factors. Favorable effects were suggested by survival experience, changes in social alienation, length of hospital stay and the patients' reported attitudes toward this form of therapy.