[Psychocardiology: how heart and mind interact]

Abstract

Patients with heart disease often suffer from psychological comorbidities in addition to various physical impairments. These mental disorders reduce the quality of life and have a negative effect on the development and course of heart diseases. Particularly the occurrence of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may lead to an increase in hospitalization-, morbidity-, and mortality rates. Early diagnosis of psychological disorders in patients with cardiovascular disease and consecutive treatment is therefore desirable. In this context, psychocardiology addresses the interaction of cardiac disease and psychological alterations as well as the influencing psychosocial factors.