This book provides a comprehensive overview of epidemiologic, experimental, and clinical data evidencing the emergence of cardiac psychology as a specialty. It offers a thorough and up-to-date review of the scientific research supporting the relationship between cardiac disease and psychological condition, practical suggestions for developing a clinical practice and directions for future research in this new field of "cardiac psychology". The first part provides an overview of the psychological risk factors for cardiac disease. Emphasis is placed on physiological basis of mind-heart link, depression and anxiety, personality and relational aspects, and on advanced statistical tools for the study of personalities at risk. The second part offers a systematic overview of literature on psychological treatments in cardiac rehabilitation. The volume will be a very useful tool not only for professionals in cardiology, rehabilitation, psychology and psychiatry, but also for residents in these specialties. This comprehensve review of scientific research supporting evidence of the relationship between cardiac disease and psychological condition offers practical suggestions for developing a clinical practice, and proposes directions for future research in the new field of "cardiac psychology". Every chapter is written by world-renowned researchers in the field. A theoretical and practical guide, it will interest physicians, clinical and health psychologists, and all professionals who seek to understand the mind-health link. List of Contributors XIII About the Editors XVII Introduction 1(4) S. Mendis Chapter 1: Clinical Psychology for Cardiac Disease 5(16) E. Molinari, L. Bellardita, A. Compare Part I Psychological Risk Factors for Cardiac Disease Chapter 2: Psychological Risk Factors for Cardiac Disease and Pathophysiological Mechanisms: An Overview 21(14) A. Compare, L. Gondoni, E. Molinari Physiological Basis of Mind-Heart Link Chapter 3: Psychophysiology of Heart Disease 35(36) G. Parati, M. Valentini, G. Mancia Chapter 4: Mental Stress Ischemia: Characteristics, Pathophysiology, Prognosis and Treatment 71(14) M.M. Burg Depression and Anxiety Chapter 5: Depression and CHD: Prevalence, Prognosis, Pathophysiology and Treatment 85(14) K. Maier, D. Chatkoff, M.M. Burg Chapter 6: Prevalence of Depression in Chronic Heart Failure 99(10) E.P. Havranek Chapter 7: Depression in Coronary Artery Disease: Assessment and Treatment 109(12) W.J. Kop, D.N. Ader Chapter 8: Anxiety and Heart Disease 121(28) D.K. Moser, M.J. De Jong Chapter 9: Anxiety, Depressive Symptoms and Heart Transplantation 149(16) S. Zipfel, A. Schneider, J. J nger, W. Herzog Chapter 10: Psychological Factors in Hypertension Development and Treatment 165(22) T. Rutledge Personality and Relational Aspects Chapter 11: Type A, Type D, Anger-Prone Behavior and Risk of Relapse in CHD Patients 187(30) A. Compare, G.M. Manzoni, E. Molinari Chapter 12: Defensive Hostility and Cardiovascular Disease: Theoretical and Empirical Bases for an Interpersonal Approach-Avoidance Conflict Perspective 217(16) R.S. Jorgensen, R. Thibodeau Chapter 13: In Sickness and In Health: Interpersonal Risk and Resilience in Cardiovascular Disease 233(40) J.M. Ruiz, H.A. Hamann, J.C. Coyne, A. Compare Chapter 14: Psychological Stress in Women: the Stockholm Female Coronary Risk Study 273(8) K. Orth-Gom /TD> Advanced Statistical Tools for the Study of Psychological Risks Aspects Chapter 15: Application of Neural Networks and Other Artificial Adaptive Systems in Prediction and Data Mining of Risk Psychological Profile for CHD 281(38) E. Grossi, A. Compare Chapter 16: Person Measurement and Rehabilitation Outcome: the New Perspective of Rasch Analysis 319(20) L. Tesio Interlude The "Heart" of Cardiology: an Imaginary Conversation with Bernard Lown 339(10) E. Molinari Part II Psychological Treatments in Cardiac Rehabilitation Chapter 17: The Art of Listening to Cardiac Patient and his Family: he Meanings of Suffering Along Temporal Dimension 349(20) A. Compare, M. Simioni Chapter 18: Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression n Patients with Coronary Heart Disease 369(22) D. Koszycki Chapter 19: Hanging onto a Heartbeat: Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples Dealing with the Trauma of Coronary Heart Disease 391(22) H.B. MacIntosh, S.M. Johnson, A. Lee Chapter 20: Type A Behavior Pattern and Its Treatment 413(22) A.T. M ller Chapter 21: Relaxation Techniques and Hypnosis in the Treatment of CHD Patients 435(16) L. Bellardita, M. Cigada, E. Molinari Chapter 22: Cardiological and Psychological Mobile Care through Telematic Technologies for Heart Failure Patients: ICAROS Project 451(20) A. Compare, E. Molinari, L. Bellardita, A. Villani, G. Branzi, G. Malfatto, S. Boarin, M. Cassi, A. Gnisci, G. Parati Chapter 23: Functioning and Disability in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease within the ICF Classification Framework: Proposals for Using ICF to Classify Functioning and Disability in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease 471(16) M. Leonardi, A. Raggi Chapter 24: Coherence-Building Techniques and Heart Rhythm Coherence Feedback: New Tools for Stress Reduction, Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation 487(24) R. McCraty, D. Tomasino Subject Index 511