Effects of a mindfulness based stress reduction program on psychological and physiological measures in cardiac patients

INTERVENTION: The applied group (6‐8 patients) intervention is a mindfulness training, which is loosely based on the Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, as developed by Kabat‐Zinn (1990). The adjusted program in this study is less intensive, including only three weekly 90 to 120 minutes meetings and an additional evaluation session two weeks later. The control group is an active control group: A self‐help intervention consisting of a booklet based on the group training and written by the same clinical psychologist. The psychoeducation and exercises are identical to the information given in the group intervention. The participants who receive the self‐help booklet are asked to read the theory and to practice the exercises daily as indicated. CONDITION: ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), Anxiety, Depression, Quality of life, Hypertension, Psychological stress ; ; PRIMARY OUTCOME: Psychological distress (symptoms of perceived stress, anxiety and depression) at post‐intervention. SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Vitality; ; ; 2. Quality of life, blood pressure; ; ; 3 Heart rate variability; ; ; 4. C‐reactive protein at post‐intervention; ; ; 5. Psychological distress (symptoms of perceived stress, anxiety and depression) at post‐intervention at 1‐year follow‐up. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Patients who had a percutaneous coronary intervention in the previous month; 2. Age 18‐70.