The Contribution of Psychosocial Interventions to Precision Medicine for Heart Health.

Abstract

This paper reviews the value of incorporating psychosocial interventions into precision medicine for heart health. First, we review the empirical literature on prevalence of common mental health comorbidities among individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We then review transdiagnostic approaches for conceptualization and treatment of mental health in individuals with CVD. We highlight recent studies that have used novel methods to individualize psychosocial interventions. Finally, we propose a preliminary framework intended to support Health Care Providers in individualizing treatment, which includes: 1) assessment of patient risk factors, characteristics, and expectations; 2) consideration of transdiagnostic processes underlying several psychiatric symptoms that contribute to CVD risk; 3) patient engagement in shared decision-making for psychosocial treatment; and 4) ongoing outcome monitoring to evaluate treatment responsiveness. We anticipate that the proposed framework will evolve with the emergence of new empirical evidence; as such, future directions and challenges for research are discussed.