Article

Research describing whether stress management can improve clinical
outcomes for patients in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has yielded equivocal
findings. METHODS: The present investigation retrospectively examined the
incremental impact of exercise and stress management (n = 188), relative to
exercise only (n = 1389), on psychosocial and physical health outcomes following
a 12-week CR program. RESULTS: Participation in stress management and exercise
was associated with greater reductions in waist circumference and systolic blood
pressure, relative to exercise alone, for patients with baseline clinical
elevations on these measures. The stress management group had more depressive
symptoms (as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; t[1] = 3.81,
P < .001) and lower physical quality of life (as measured by the 12-Item Short
Form Health Survey Physical Component; t[1] = 3.00, P = .003) than the
exercise-only group at baseline, but there were no differences between the groups
at 12 weeks in terms of depressive symptoms (t[1] = 1.74, P = .082) or physical
quality of life (t[1] = 1.56, P = .120). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that
stress management may offer additional benefits in selected patients over and
above exercise in CR.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI