EFFECT OF STRESS INOCULATION TRAINING ON EMOTIONAL STATES AND SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS IN PATIENTS OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of Stress Inoculation Training (SIT)on emotional states and severity of symptoms of coronary heart disease(CHD) among cardiac patients.

Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted at Institute ofCardiology Multan from January 2015 to August 2015. The cardiacpatients were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=41) and controlgroups (n=42). Pre and post data on measures of profile of mood states(POMS) and coronary heart disease symptoms check list (CHDS) werecollected from both groups before and after the administration of SIT. Thedata was analyzed by employing independent and paired sample t-tests.

Results: About 83 patients were included in the study. Significantdifferences were found in pre and post scores on emotional states andsymptoms of CHD for intervention group (t = 3.68, p< .001 and t =8.81, p< .001 respectively) while insignificant findings were found forcontrol group. The SIT was found efficient for individual emotional statesof depression, anxiety, hostility, inertia, confusion, and vigor at p< .001.Patients after SIT also reported a decrease in their symptoms of CHD atp<.001.

Conclusion: From the present findings, SIT seems absolutely effective indecreasing the negative emotional states and severity of symptoms ofCHD among cardiac patients. SIT can be considered as practicablemethod to reduce the stress level associated with CHD.