The heart-mind connection.

A clear connection exists between mental health and heart disease, which requires assessment, collaboration with other professionals, and behavioral health interventions. Psychosocial factors such as stress, anger, anxiety, and depression promote heart disease. Alternately, the use of mood-enhancing or stress-reducing techniques--such as optimism, meditation, counseling, exercise, and imagery--as well as a lifestyle behavioral change approach can have a positive effect on reducing the incidence of heart disease. Behavioral health treatment can improve medical conditions and quality of life.