Medically and surgically treated coronary patients in cardiovascular rehabilitation: a comparative study.

Mood and physical performance were assessed in medically and surgically treated patients with coronary artery disease referred to a cardiovascular rehabilitation program early in convalescence. Surgically treated patients reported less mood disturbance prior to training and demonstrated greater gains in exercise tolerance. Medically managed patients had more mood disturbance prior to training and greater mood improvement in the six week rehabilitation program. Improvements in mood were independent of improvement in exercise tolerance. Group differences in mood state could not be attributed to the use of defensive denial, time from discharge, severity of coronary disease, or age of patient. The psychological and physical impact of bypass surgery contributes to the mood and physical performance of postoperative patients.