Psychodynamic Motivation and Training Program (PMT)

Nonpharmacological secondary prevention of coronary heart disease is considered to be a safe and effective measure for reducing mortality substantially. Major targets are the improvement of physical activity and dietary habits, smoking cessation and stress reduction. Despite the effectiveness of life style changes, the compliance rate of patients is very low. To improve compliance with life style change programs psychotherapeutic interventions appear to have significant potential. Against this background our study aims to examine the effectiveness of a Psychodynamic Motivation and Training Program (PMT) in addition to one session of advice in exercise training based on the results of spiroergometry (+EX) and usual cardiological care (TAU). PMT will be compared with +Ex and TAU. N = 90 patients with stable coronary artery disease class, low physical activity, class I to III angina pectoris will be randomly assigned to the three treatment conditions. The Primary efficacy endpoint is change in the anaerobic threshold from baseline to 6 month follow-up. The results of the study will 1) help to determine the effectiveness of a psychodynamic life style change programs for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and 2) will help to identify measures for designing specifically tailored interventions to improve compliance with cardiovascular prevention.