ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the application of psychological techniques to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. It focuses on one particular technique or set of techniques, generally referred to as stress management training. The chapter examines the role of behavioural change, in particular that afforded by stress management or related type A behaviour management techniques, in reducing coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. Stress management training is a generic term of a variety of techniques all aimed at reducing the impact of psychological stress. Conversely, some forms of stress management training may include other specifically focused approaches, such as teaching people to reduce type A behaviour, or getting them to manage anger better. Levels of serum cholesterol above 5.2 mmol/litre significantly raise an individual’s risk of developing CHD. Of all CHD risk factors, most attention, in terms of stress management, has been directed at hypertension.
