To cope with the demands of everyday life, individuals require a certain level of
psychological resilience. Resilience can be defined in various ways, such as the
interplay between vulnerability (risk factors) and protection (resources). Another
definition of resilience is the ability to adapt positively to stressful circumstances or
to remain functionally stable and healthy despite prolonged stress. Resilience is a
crucial factor in determining the quality of life and the psychosocial behaviour of an
individual. Therefore, measuring individual resilience can help to understand an
individual's resistance to stress and to initiate appropriate therapeutic interventions.
There is evidence to suggest that cardiovascular diseases can cause increased physical
and psychological stress in patients, potentially indicating a link between individual
resilience and cardiovascular disease. Specifically, stress can lead to conditions such
as takotsubo cardiomyopathy and acute coronary events. Individuals with takotsubo
cardiomyopathy or those who have experienced an acute coronary event often encounter
stress as a result of acute emotional or physical triggers, such as job loss or illness.
Additionally, those affected often describe long-lasting stress, such as post-traumatic
stress disorder or suppression of emotions, before the onset of symptoms.
The symptom complex of takotsubo cardiomyopathy are similar to those of an acute
myocardial infarction, but without narrowed coronary arteries. Additionally, takotsubo
cardiomyopathy is more prevalent in postmenopausal women. Studies have shown that the
mortality rate of takotsubo cardiomyopathy is higher than previously assumed.
Additionally, the long-term mortality of patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy is higher
than that of patients after a heart attack.
As medical rehabilitation is a commonly used method for treating cardiovascular diseases.
It has been shown to be effective in sustaining the benefits of acute hospital treatment.
However, this approach is often overlooked in patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy,
despite its proven positive effects.
A multidisciplinary team can provide individualized care to patients as part of a medical
rehabilitation process. The provision of psychological support, such as coping strategies
and resilience building, could be of great benefit to people undergoing rehabilitation
for takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Research indicates that patients diagnosed with takotsubo
cardiomyopathy often struggle to manage stress for an extended period following their
diagnosis and initial treatment, which can negatively impact their quality of life and
participation. Furthermore, compared to the general population, patients who have been
treated for an acute cardiac event, such as an acute myocardial infarction, have lower
stress tolerance.
Therefore, the aim of this research project is to assess the effectiveness of a
resilience-focused rehabilitation programme for people with takotsubo cardiomyopathy or
who have experienced an acute coronary event.
This study will examine changes in psychological resilience, as measured by two
independent resilience scales (Resilience Scale-13 and Brief Resilience Scale), during
three weeks of inpatient rehabilitation and assess sustainability of these changes after
completion of rehabilitation (six-month follow-up). Additionally, participation-related
parameters (health-related quality of life, psychological distress and work ability) and
physical performance (incremental cycle ergometry) will also be considered.
