Positive Psychology to Improve Healthy Behaviors After an Acute Coronary Syndrome (PEACE II)

Mass General Brigham

Status

Completed

Conditions

Acute Coronary Syndrome

Treatments

Behavioral: Positive psychology intervention

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

NIH

Identifiers

NCT02004158

2013P001961

1R01HL113272-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this proof-of-concept study, the investigators will assess the ease and usefulness of a positive psychology program in patients with acute coronary syndrome and less-than-optimal adherence to health behaviors. The investigators believe that positive psychology (a field that studies boosting positive emotions rather than simply reducing negative emotions) will help this cardiac population to be more healthy. The investigators want to determine whether this positive psychology program has the potential to be an adjunctive treatment for cardiac populations.

Enrollment

23 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Adult patients admitted to one of three cardiac inpatient units at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Primary diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (myocardial infarction or unstable angina).
Less-than-optimal adherence to health behaviors. This will be defined as a mean score of less than 15 on the Medical Outcomes Study Specific Adherence Scale (scores range from 3-18, with higher scores indicating better adherence).

Exclusion criteria

Cognitive deficits, assessed via a 6-item cognitive screen used to assess appropriate participation of medically-ill patients in research studies.
Patients not prescribed aspirin at discharge.
Inability to communicate in English.
Inability to participate in physical activity.