Mindfulness and Basic Psychological Needs among Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

The present study investigated mindfulness and satisfaction of basic psychological needs among patients with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). A questionnaire consisting of Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), needs satisfaction (NS), coronary prone behavior (CPB), anxiety, depression and perceived stress scales was administered to 101 CHD patients and 103 normal subjects. Collected data from both groups were analyzed by descriptive statistics, comparing of between group means and MANOVA model. Data analysis showed that the group with CHD had lower levels of mindfulness and more coronary prone behaviors in comparison with the normal group, but there was no significant difference in basic needs satisfaction. The CHD patients had higher levels of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress as well. Individuals with CHD are not mindful of the somatic signs such as palpitation and dyspnea before the acute development of the disease, and show more coronary prone behavior in comparison with normal individuals.