The Time Has Come for Physicians to Take Notice: The Impact of Psychosocial Stressors on the Heart

A rapidly growing body of evidence supports a relationship between psychosocial factors and cardiovascular disease. In this article, a review of the epidemiologic and clinical research investigating this relationship concludes that psychosocial stressors can be both a cause and a consequence of cardiovascular disease events. Furthermore, recent data have shown that stress management might reduce future cardiac events in patients with cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, the influence of psychosocial risk factors on cardiovascular disease remains underrecognized compared with traditional cardiac risk factors. Physicians and their associates should screen for psychosocial stressors and recognize potential symptoms. Consideration should be given to developing improved liaison relationships with psychologic or behavioral specialists to facilitate more specialized interventions when appropriate. A variety of interventions conducted by appropriately trained mental health professionals have successfully improved stress in patients with cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases. The time has come for physicians to recognize the impact of psychosocial stressors on cardiovascular disease.