Digital Cognitive Therapy Can Reduce Cardiac Anxiety After Myocardial Infarction

THURSDAY, April 2, 2026 (HealthDay News) -- A digital, exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention is beneficial for cardiac anxiety in patients after myocardial infarction, according to randomized trial results published online March 25 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and an accompanying study detailing the methods published in JACC: Advances.Amanda Johnsson, from Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and colleagues applied an exposure-based CBT approach for cardiac anxiety in patients after myocardial infarction. The randomized controlled trial assessed the efficacy of a therapist-guided, digital exposure-based CBT intervention for cardiac anxiety (CA-CBT), which was delivered digitally over eight weeks, compared with usual care.Ninety-six participants were randomly assigned to receive CA-CBT or usual care (48 to each group). The researchers found that compared with usual care, CA-CBT led to significant improvements on the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) quality-of-life subscale (19.9 versus 9.5 points) and on the SAQ physical limitation subscale (7.4 versus 2.1 points). SAQ angina stability or SAQ angina frequency subscales did not differ significantly between the groups. A significant reduction was seen in cardiac anxiety (Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire [CAQ] summary score) in the CA-CBT group versus the usual care group (−12.5 versus −4.7 points). Across the CAQ fear, attention, and avoidance subscales, the reductions were consistent."It is important to understand that cardiac-related anxiety is common after a heart attack and that it can be treated. Digital therapy can be a way to reach more patients," Johnsson said in a statement.Two authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry; one author disclosed ties to the publishing industry.Abstract/Full Text - Main Clinical Results (subscription or payment may be required)Abstract/Full Text - Methods.Sign up for our weekly HealthDay newsletter

Digital Cognitive Therapy Can Reduce Cardiac Anxiety After Myocardial Infarction

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