[Impact of psychological factors on development and course of coronary artery disease [corrected]: should negative psychological factors be altered?]

Psychological factors effect the development and course of coronary heart disease (CHD). Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation, reduced heart rate variability, diminished baroreflex sensitivity, impaired immune function and altered platelet function are proposed as significant psychophysiologic mechanisms to explain this association. Because psychological factors may influence several different stages of long atherosclerosis period, interventional studies aiming to alter negative psychological factors by behavioral and medical ways, expecting to prevent or improve CHD, have been discussed. Complementary to the traditional treatment, this new treatment strategy could be a different perspective and a nice promise for CHD patients.