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Introduction: Cardiac surgery patients, former cardiac patients, face additional sources of stress connected with surgical intervention. Objectives: To devise the main principles of a personalized approach in psychosocial interventions for cardiac surgery patients. Methods: We have devised these principles based on the analysis of contemporary scientific literature and the operational experience of the Cardiology Clinic of the Chuvash Republic located in the city of Cheboksary. Results: A personalized approach in psychosocial interventions for cardiac surgery patients is used at all levels of medical support. It implies taking into consideration in every specific patient a unique correlation of their clinic-anamnestic peculiarities, clinic-psychological risk factors of the condition's gravity and their psychological resources. At the same time, all the psychological interventions must focus on the personality and comply with the clinic specificity of the actual somatic and mental condition of the cardiac surgery patients. The underlying principles of the personalized approach in psychosocial interventions for cardiac surgery patientsinclude the principles of accessibility, openness, continuity, collaboration, integration, differentiation, variation, participation, awareness and prevention. Conclusions: Relying on the personalized approach in psychosocial interventions for cardiac surgery patientsallows working out a personalized treatment and rehabilitation course for an individual patient. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Multi-staged and personalized in nature, psychosocial interventions for cardiac surgery patients explain the necessity of relying on the potential of interdisciplinary interaction Objectives: To present the review of the model of interdisciplinary interaction of experts and institutions in the course of psychosocial interventions for cardiac surgery patients, which is currently used in the Chuvash Republic. Methods: This model involves the experts and institutions of the regional healthcare system, the regional system of social care, the regional and federal system of education, non-governmental medical and health resort institutions, and private practitioners. Results: In the center of this model is the Regional Cardiology Center, which interacts with the Psychotherapeutic Center and the Republican Mental Hospital's Helpline. It also involves the town hospitals and the central district hospitals, non-governmental clinics and private practitioners. The process of rehabilitation and follow-up care continues in the regional health resorts. The social service centers provide additional support. The institute of chief experts of the regional Health Care Ministry, which includes a psychiatrist, cardiologist, psychotherapist, and psychologist, oversees the overall activity. The clinic faculty professors and associate professors are involved in the development of the programs. Conclusions: The practical results of using the regional model of interdisciplinary interaction enhance the potential of psychosocial interventions for cardiac surgery patients. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hostility as a personality trait is considered a psychosocial risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) and related mortality. Identifying new psychophysiological interrelations of hostility in case of CHD is of scientific and practical interest. Objectives: To reveal possible relationships between hostility as a psychological category, which was measured based on the reports of CHD patients, and the objective indices of heart functioning in sick patients, which were measured instrumentally. Methods: We interviewed 48 postmyocardial infarction patients after discharging from intensive care unit using Projective Hostility Test (Kholmogorova & Garanyan). They also underwent echocardiography and coronarography. Results: The average index of hostility in group of CHD patients made up 48.15±12.18 points, which was higher than the standard measure (p=0.0025). These differences were explained by the patients' higher inclination to perceive the surrounding people as those who contempt weakness and who solve their own problems purely by themselves. The correlation analysis revealed significant relations between other hostility indices and the instrumental measurements. We determined the connection of the patients' perception of the surrounding people as dominant and jealous with the coronary arterial involvement (r=0.29), and their perception of the surrounding people as cold-hearted and indifferent with an increased left ventricular ejection fraction (r=0.35). Conclusions: Hostility understood as a persistent inclination to ascribe negative qualities to social objects shows high figures in CHD patients. They are correlated with physiological heart parameters and reflect, on the one hand, the coronary artery involvement and a decreased blood flow, and on the other hand, an increased myocardial contractility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Strict emotional control in patients is associated with negative clinical effects in cardiological practice. Are there any specifics in emotional control in cardiovascular patients? Objectives: The goal of the study was to find the difference in emotional expression control in cardiovascular patients of various nosological groups. Methods: The study involved 233 cardiac patients (60 with essential hypertension, 56 with valvular heart disease, 69 with stable coronary heart disease (SCHD), 48 with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)). The measuring instrument was Ban on the Emotional Expression questionnaire (Zaretsky & Kholmogorova). Results: The general level of ban on the emotional expression in all cardiovascular patients is significantly higher (p=0.0001) as compared to healthy people. Higher emotional control covered the whole spectrum of emotions except sadness (p=0.076). One-factor variance analysis showed credible differences among the groups in control of expressing fear (p=0.034), joy (p=0.019), sadness (p=0.016), and the general ban on expressing positive and negative emotions (p=0.003). Comparing the indices shown by SCHD and AMI patients we revealed that the level of the aggregate emotional control is credibly higher in AMI patients (p=0.0001), while SCHD patients were distinguished by a higher ban on anger expression (p=0.0315). In AMI patients, we revealed significant interrelations between the general emotional control and high blood pressure (r=0.35), between the ban on expressing sadness and diabetes mellitus (r=0.30). Conclusions: The findings highlight essential differences in emotional control in cardiovascular patients of various nosological groups, which underscores the importance of considering this specificity when planning prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alexithymia as a personality construct reflecting deficit of emotional regulation and cognitive processing is considered a universal trait that transcends cultural differences (Taylor et al.). In acute myocardial infarction (AMI) it is associated with delayed treatment seeking (Carta et al.). Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the specifics of emotional regulation and cognitive processing in AMI patients through measuring the three-factor structure of alexithymia. Methods: The instrument that we used was the Russian version of Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20-R) (Starostina et al.) which was administered to 48 AMI patients during their in-patient treatment in Cardiology Clinic. Results: The prevalence of alexithymia among AMI patients was 68.8% (31.25% - moderate level, 37.5% - high level). The integral index of alexithymia in the examined patients as compared to the scientific data was surely higher (p=0.039). The concept characteristic of the identified differences was a higher level of the difficulty identifying feelings factor (p=0.0063). We have also revealed significant interrelations of alexithymia with the lipid status of the AMI patients. We identified positive correlations between the level of highdensity lipoproteins (HDL) and the general index of alexithymia (r=0.37) and the factors that constitute its structure - difficulty identifying feelings (r=0.27), difficulty describing feelings (r=0.40), externally oriented thinking (r=0.33). Conclusions: Deficit of emotional regulation and cognitive processing as manifestations of alexithymia have been monitored in two thirds of AMI patients. Its higher level is characterized by patients' difficulty describing their own feelings. Positive interrelations of alexithymia with the HDL level need further studying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]