Introduction: The relationship between psychological factors and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been extensively studied, particularly concerning predictive factors and patients' responses during both the acute and chronic phases. However, there is less understanding of how specific psychological treatments affect the psychological well-being of patients in cardiovascular rehabilitation. Purpose: This study aims to test the effectiveness of psychological interventions in improving the mental health of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation programs. Specifically, this study aims to compare the effect of three different types of psychological interventions: the (a) psychoeducational intervention group, (b) progressive muscle relaxation training integrated with Jacobson's technique and imaginative stabilization techniques, and (c) individual counseling on the levels of anxiety, depression and illness perception of patients suffering from CVDs at the beginning (T0), at the end (T1), and 3 months after a cardiac rehabilitation program (T2).
Methods: One hundred and eighty-one patients in cardiovascular rehabilitation participated in three psychological treatments: psychoeducational intervention group, progressive muscle relaxation training with Jacobson's technique and imaginative stabilization techniques, and individual counseling. The study included patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), heart failure (HF), or undergoing cardiac surgery (CS) undergoing cardiovascular rehabilitation. HADS and Brief-IPQ measured levels of anxiety, depression, and illness perception. Results: Significant differences were observed between different time points in the three psychological treatments, with individual counseling showing the most significant improvements in anxiety, depression, and illness perception. Conclusion: The study shows that individual counseling significantly reduces the levels of depression and anxiety, while promoting a healthier perception of the disease in comparison with the other two psychological treatments offered. These findings have important implications for healthcare policies, as they provide evidence for the effectiveness of individual counseling in improving the psychological well-being of patients.