Psychosocial factors and coronary disease. A national multicenter clinical trial (ENRICHD) with a North Carolina focus

Abstract

In addition to traditional risk factors (cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol) psychosocial factors (depression, social isolation, and low socioeconomic status) have an adverse impact on prognosis of patients with CAD. Several studies of psychosocial and behavioral treatments provide encouraging evidence for the clinical efficacy of psychosocial interventions in CAD patients. A new, multicenter clinical trial now underway (see sidebar) will evaluate the impact of psychosocial interventions (compared to usual care) on all-cause mortality and nonfatal MI in post-MI patients with depression or perceived low levels of social support or both.