Teresa McIntyre, Ana Cláudia Fernandes, & Vera Araújo-Soares
Instituto de Educação e Psicologia, Universidade do Minho

Abstract

This paper describes a study which aims at investigating some indicators of the differential efficacy of a multimodal biopsychosocial intervention and biomedical intervention in the rehabilitation of the post acute myocardial infarction. The sample is composed of 32 patients of both sexes, aged 35-65, being seen at cardiology unit of a central hospital. A significant difference was predicted between the pre and post intervention moments in the medical and psychosocial variables studied for the biopsycosocial group but not for the biomedical group, in the direction of a decrease in the indicators of anxiety, depression and hostility and a increase in healthy behaviours. The result point to positive changes in the byopsichosocial group in various aspects related to the post acute myocardial infarction rehabilitation. The discussion and critical analysis of the results is carried out according to the theoretical frame of reference.