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Value, implementation, and opportunities for cardiovascular behavioral medicine: A special issue commentary
Alyssa M Vela1, Matthew C Whited2, Andrew M Busch3
1Department of Surgery.
Insights
Cardiovascular behavioral medicine addresses behavioral and psychosocial risk factors for heart disease. Despite its importance, this specialty care remains underutilized, highlighting a need for greater implementation in cardiology.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Medicine
- Cardiovascular Health
- Psychosocial Factors
Background:
- Behavioral and psychosocial factors significantly impact cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence, progression, and treatment.
- Despite growing literature and attention, the implementation of cardiovascular behavioral medicine remains limited.
- Cardiovascular behavioral medicine is a specialty focused on managing behavioral and psychosocial risk factors in individuals with or at risk for CVD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the contributions of research featured in the Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Special Issue of Health Psychology.
- To highlight the value of behavioral medicine in cardiology and its subspecialties.
- To identify opportunities for the growth and implementation of cardiovascular behavioral medicine.
Main Methods:
- Commentary on articles within a special issue of Health Psychology focused on Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine.
- Synthesis of findings and implications from diverse scientific contributions.
- Identification of trends and future directions in the field.
Main Results:
- The special issue articles demonstrate the significant value of behavioral medicine education, science, and clinical practice in cardiology.
- Specific subspecialties like heart failure can benefit greatly from integrated behavioral medicine approaches.
- The commentary identifies key areas for growth and improved implementation of cardiovascular behavioral medicine.
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular behavioral medicine has the potential to significantly advance cardiovascular health and well-being.
- Further integration of behavioral medicine into cardiology is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
- The special issue provides a roadmap for the future development and influence of the field.
Abstract:
Behavioral and psychosocial factors related to the incidence, progression, and treatment of cardiovascular health, have seen increased attention in recent years, from scientific statements to a robust and growing body of literature. Despite this attention, and clear need to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease (CVD) the world over, implementation of cardiovascular behavioral medicine, specialty care that addresses behavioral and psychosocial risk factors among those with, or at risk for, CVD, remains limited. The current commentary discusses the contributions of the diverse body of science published in the Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Special Issue of Health Psychology. The authors outline how the special issue articles highlight the value of behavioral medicine education, science, and clinical practice for cardiology and cardiovascular subspecialities, such as heart failure, as well as opportunities for growth and implementation. This commentary outlines the ways in which the special issue furthers understanding of the current and future possibilities for cardiovascular behavioral medicine to grow as a field and influence cardiovascular health and wellbeing. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
