BACKGROUND: High rates of emotional stress are usually observed in the care of patients waiting for coronary angioplasty. Our main objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological treatment in reducing emotional stress in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty. METHODS: This is a prospective, sequential, randomized study. This study included 128 patients with acute or chronic coronary artery disease who were divided into two groups: group A included 66 patients who received psychological treatment prior to coronary angioplasty, and group B with 62 patients who underwent coronary angioplasty without psychological treatment. Both groups answered a specific questionnaire to assess whether there was emotional stress prior and after angioplasty. RESULTS: When the questionnaire was repeated, it was observed that in group A, 74% of the patients did not have emotional stress, whereas it was present in 26% of the patients. In group B, when the questionnaire was repeated, 6% of the patients did not have emotional stress, whereas it was present in 94% of them. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological treatment in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty was effective in reducing stress.
Angioplasty; Stress, psychological; Psychology; Humanization of assistance
