This video was originally webcast live on June 15th, 2012 at 1pm and is now available on-demand.

An enormous database informs the field known variously as cardiac psychology, behavioral cardiology, and psychocardioloy. A PubMed search of the terms “stress and cardiovascular disease” currently yields more than 55,000 citations. This workshop will distill the epidemiology on the “big three” psychosocial risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD): depression, social isolation, and anger/hostility. CHD is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States and the industrialized Western World. Newer putative risk factors for CHD will also be discussed, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, vital exhaustion, and job strain. Cardiac denial, the tendency to minimize or outright deny the significance of cardiac symptoms, is an important barrier to effective treatment for myocardial infarction (heart attack), and will also be discussed. Special issues related to women, minorities, and lower socioeconomic status will be presented. In contrast to the vast database linking psychosocial factors for CHD, there have been astonishingly few clinical trials. The trials that have been undertaken will be described, particularly with regard to efficacy, as will future directions for the field.

Learning Objective 1
Gain a basic understanding of the vast epidemiologic research informing cardiac psychology.

Learning Objective 2
Descriebe the clinical trials in cardiac psychology as well as some of the complex issues involved in conducing such trials.

Learning Objective 3
Describe the avenues for developing practice in cardiac psychology.

Presenter: Robert Allan,  PhD

Robert Allan, PhD is a clinical psychologist with practice specialties in cardiac psychology, stress, and anger management. Dr. Allan holds appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology in Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and Professional Associate at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, where he has treated many hundreds of cardiac patients with individual and group psychotherapy and educated well over 10,000 patients and their family members during his 28 year tenure. Dr. Allan is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. He is co-editor of both the first and second editions of Heart and Mind: the Practice of Cardiac Psychology (1996, 2012), the seminal books in the field published by the American Psychological Association. He has written numerous book chapters and journal articles on cardiac psychology. In addition, Dr. Allan is the author of Getting Control of Your Anger (McGraw Hill, 2006).

Dr. Allan was recipient of the 2002 Timothy Jeffrey Award for “outstanding contributions to clinical health psychology” from APA. He conducted the first stress reduction program for officers and wives at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Dr. Allan had an extensive interview about anger management with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America. He has served as media “stress expert” for Weill Cornell/New York Presbyterian Hospital, appearing in the PBS/NOVA Special “This Emotional Life,” the Today Show as well as many other television and radio news programs.