Heart disease is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Research has led to improvements in treatment and increased longevity for patients. Heart disease is comorbid with many psychiatric illnesses that psychiatrists encounter in everyday practice. Thus, it is important for clinicians to have a basic understanding of heart disease, and its impact on their patients and their patients' treatments. In this article, we review the basic pathophysiology, epidemiology, and treatments for heart disease, and then describe a framework for managing the affective, behavioral, and cognitive considerations for patients with heart disease. We emphasize the identification of comorbid psychiatric illnesses and symptoms that directly or indirectly result from heart disease. Finally, we outline treatment strategies to improve overall cardiac health.
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