Depression and anxiety can significantly reduce the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Several studies have assessed the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-based interventions for symptoms of anxiety and depression; however, they do not relate to patients with heart disease. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of VR therapy on the mental state of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Thirty-four CAD patients with elevated anxiety or depression symptoms were recruited. After randomization, 17 participants were assigned to the intervention group, and 17 to the control group. Both groups underwent standard CR for outpatients. In the intervention group, eight VR therapy sessions were applied. In the control group, eight sessions of Schultz' Autogenic Training were applied. To assess patient mental states, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Perception of Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) were used, before and after 4 weeks of CR. In the intervention group, a significant decrease in HADS score was observed (19.46 pretreatment vs. 15.73 post-treatment, p = 0.003), HADS-Anxiety subscale decreased by 16.0 percent (p = 0.01) and HADS-Depression by 23.0 percent (p = 0.003). Similarly, a significant decrease in PSQ was recorded at 12.8 percent (64.73 vs. 56.47, p = 0.03). In the control group, HADS and PSQ data did not change. VR therapy significantly reduced the severity of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress levels in CAD patients undergoing CR. Immersive VR therapy effectively supports the CR of individuals with anxiety-depressive symptoms. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04045977)

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of virtual reality (VR)-enhanced cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in reducing the intensity of depression and anxiety symptoms in patients undergoing phase II of CR in ambulatory conditions. One hundred participants (mean age 65.7 years) were divided randomly into two groups. Both groups took part in eight sessions of standard CR (three times per week). The experimental group was additionally supported by eight sessions of VR therapy using the VR TierOne device and the control group by eight sessions of Schultz Autogenic Training. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used as the primary outcome measure. The Perception of Stress Questionnaire was used as the secondary outcome measure. The data from 77 participants were subject to analysis. Post-intervention, in the experimental group, the overall HADS score was statistically significantly reduced by 13.5%, HADS-Depression by 20.8%, and the general stress level by 12.8% (p < 0.05). In the control group, the scores of the HADS, HADS-Anxiety and the general stress level were statistically significantly higher, by 4.8%, 6.5%, and 4.9%, respectively. VR-enhanced CR for individuals with cardiovascular disease reduced the level of anxiety and depression symptoms compared to standard CR.

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become increasingly prevalent in women, and it is also in this group that the risk of developing depression is the highest. The most commonly applied therapeutic intervention in cardiac rehabilitation is Schultz’s autogenic training, which has proven to be of little efficacy in reducing depression and anxiety disorders. At the same time, a growing number of scientific reports have been looking at the use of virtual reality (VR) to treat mental health problems. This study aimed at assessing the efficacy of virtual therapy in reducing levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in female CVD patients. Materials and Methods: The study included 43 women who were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (N = 17), where eight-week cardiac rehabilitation was enhanced with VR-based therapeutic sessions, and control group (N = 26), where the VR therapy was replaced with Schultz’s autogenic training. Mental state parameters were measured using the Perception of Stress Questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: In the experimental group, the sole parameter which failed to improve was HADS-Anxiety, which remained at the baseline level. In the control group, there was a deterioration in nearly all tested parameters except for HADS-Depression. Statistically significant differences in the efficacy of rehabilitation were recorded in relation to the level of stress in the sub-scales: emotional tension (p = 0.005), external stress (p = 0.012), intrapsychic stress (p = 0.023) and the generalized stress scale (p = 0.004). Conclusions: VR therapy is an efficient and interesting complement to cardiac rehabilitation, with proven efficacy in reducing stress levels.

Introduction. Mood disorders, a predominant symptom of depression, are correlated with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVd) development and unfavourable course. Anxiety that accompanies CVd is concurrently its cause, consequence, and debilitating factor. There is also a correlation between CVd and erectile dysfunction (Ed). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between mood disorders and Ed in men undergoing cardiac rehabilitation and determine the role of diabetes and other risk factors in both health problems. Methods. The study involved 69 men aged 32-79 admitted to cardiac rehabilitation procedure. Beck depression inventory served to measure mood disorders, and international index of Erectile Function 5 to establish sexual dysfunction. A survey pertaining social, demographic, and clinical data was conducted among the participants. Results. overall, 85.5% of the participants were overweight or obese. over half of them suffered from hypertension or lipid disorders. About a third had diabetes, 77% smoked cigarettes. Mood disorders were found in 5 men, Ed among 74% of the participants. There was no statistically significant correlation between mood disorders and diabetes, smoking, or excess body mass. Ed prevalence showed no correlation with overweight or mood disorders. The only statistically significant risk factor for Ed was diabetes. Conclusions. The results do not reveal a connection between mood disorders and Ed in the studied sample. it is impossible to measure shared risk factors for both disorders in a group with only 5 people presenting depression symptoms. diabetes significantly influences Ed prevalence among men with coronary artery disease.

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality therapy (VRT) in the treatment of anxiety–depressive disorders and in reducing stress levels in a group of men with coronary heart disease (CHD) participating in cardiac rehabilitation (CR). The study included 34 men with CHD who were assigned to the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG). CR in the EG was supported by 8 VRT sessions, while CR in the CG was supplemented with 8 SAT sessions. Anxiety–depressive disorders were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Perceived stress was assessed using the Perception of Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). In the EG, all measured parameters improved after the intervention. Significant reductions in HADS total score, the HADS-A, general stress score, emotional tension, and the external stress were obtained. In the CG, a deterioration in all measured parameters was observed. Significant changes were obtained in the general stress score and intrapsychic stress. The analysis between groups showed that the effectiveness of psychological interventions significantly differed between groups. The study results confirmed that supplementing standard CR with VRT leads to an improvement in the mental state of the patients and thus has a positive effect on the course of CR. However, the small sample size and high withdrawal rate prompt cautious interpretation of the results.

Introduction: Patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator require physical therapy due to their decreased physical fitness. This is why standardized training has been designed for groups of subjects of varying endurance. Material and methods: Patients with heart failure and implantable cardioverter defibrillator who wished to do interval training program. The program included 55 patients. We divided them into two study groups. The first group had lower exercise tolerance level (3.94 ± 0.72 MET), and the other had higher exercise tolerance level (7.97 ± 1.80 MET). The training group had an 8-week long training program. The patients received treatment at an outpatient clinic three times a week. Patients had cardiac stress tests with modified Bruce protocol before receiving physical therapy and after they have finished the training program. We assessed the metabolic equivalent of task (METS), the duration of exercise, blood pressure, heart rate and BMI. Results: We observed longer duration of cardiac stress test performance and improvement of exercise tolerance. In patients from the group with lower exercise tolerance, the level of exercise tolerance was 3.94 ± 0.72 MET before therapy and rose to 5.93 ± 1.12 MET (p < 0.001) after therapy. In the group of higher exercise tolerance, the level was 7.97 ± 1.80 MET before therapy and rose to 9.32 ± 2.01 MET (p < 0.001) after the training cycle. Conclusions: Participation in 8-week interval training cycle resulted in greater increase of exercise tolerance and exercise time, as well as hemodynamic parameters in patients with lower exercise tolerance.