Cardiovascular psychology

The Research in cardiovascular psychology group investigates the psychosocial aspects of cardiovascular disease. For example the prevalence of mental illness in cardiovascular disease and evaluation of psychological treatments in this setting. Risk factor management is a major challenge for both primary and secondary prevention and it is, to a large extent, behavioural. Some cardiac conditions have special behavioural challenges, for example in Takotsubo, also known as “Broken heart syndrome”, stress is an important factor.

Erik Olsson

When emotions take hold of the heart

Read the interview with Erik Olsson, Professor of Health Psychology, in which he discusses how psychological factors affect the heart - and how heart disease, in turn, can change how we think, feel, and live our lives.

Researcher profile Erik Olsson

Gruppmedlemmar

Forskningsledare: Erik Olsson

Gruppmedlemmar: Niclas Almén, Felix Eklund, Philip Leissner, Marina Marchal, Gitiara Nasrin, Fredrika Norlund, Henrik Nygård, Hillevi Nyström

Publications

Expanding the Recovery Experience Questionnaire into a 5-factor model by including a factor covering experiences of contrast

Almén, Niclas; Ekstrom, Saga; Grytzelius, Olivia; Jansson, Billy

Part of Nordic Psychology, p. 47-68, 2026
- DOI for Expanding the Recovery Experience Questionnaire into a 5-factor model by including a factor covering experiences of contrast
- Download full text (pdf) of Expanding the Recovery Experience Questionnaire into a 5-factor model by including a factor covering experiences of contrast
Diabetes distress and associated factors among adults with type 2 diabetes in Sweden: a cross-sectional study

Josefsson, Cecilia; Pöder, Ulrika; Hedström, Mariann; Olsson, Erik M. G.

Part of Primary Care Diabetes, p. 357-364, 2026
- DOI for Diabetes distress and associated factors among adults with type 2 diabetes in Sweden: a cross-sectional study
- Download full text (pdf) of Diabetes distress and associated factors among adults with type 2 diabetes in Sweden: a cross-sectional study
Randomized Controlled Trial of Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy After Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries or Takotsubo Syndrome

Leissner, Philip; Sundelin, Runa; Rondung, Elisabet; Humphries, Sophia et al.

Part of Journal of the American Heart Association, 2026
- DOI for Randomized Controlled Trial of Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy After Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries or Takotsubo Syndrome
- Download full text (pdf) of Randomized Controlled Trial of Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy After Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries or Takotsubo Syndrome
Associations between dog and cat ownership, social integration, mental health and physical activity: A cross-sectional study from the SCAPIS population

Henriksson, Catrin; Wernroth, Mona-Lisa; Nasrin, Gitiara; Kennedy, Beatrice et al.

Part of HUMAN-ANIMAL INTERACTIONS, 2026
- DOI for Associations between dog and cat ownership, social integration, mental health and physical activity: A cross-sectional study from the SCAPIS population
- Download full text (pdf) of Associations between dog and cat ownership, social integration, mental health and physical activity: A cross-sectional study from the SCAPIS population
A randomized controlled trial of beta-blockers effects on cardiac anxiety

Leissner, Philip; Mars, Katarina; Humphries, Sophia; Jernberg, Tomas et al.

Part of General Hospital Psychiatry, p. 26-32, 2025
- DOI for A randomized controlled trial of beta-blockers effects on cardiac anxiety
- Download full text (pdf) of A randomized controlled trial of beta-blockers effects on cardiac anxiety
Association between psychological inflexibility, distress and health-related quality of life in people with cardiovascular disease

Habibović, M.; Leissner, Philip; Nyklíček, I.; Widdershoven, J. et al.

Part of General Hospital Psychiatry, p. 95-99, 2025
- DOI for Association between psychological inflexibility, distress and health-related quality of life in people with cardiovascular disease
- Download full text (pdf) of Association between psychological inflexibility, distress and health-related quality of life in people with cardiovascular disease
Effects of mental health interventions given at youth-friendly health services and integrated youth services: a systematic review protocol

Andersén, Mikael; Vikman Lostelius, Petra; Bring, Annika; Ring, Lena et al.

Part of BMJ Open, 2025
- DOI for Effects of mental health interventions given at youth-friendly health services and integrated youth services: a systematic review protocol
- Download full text (pdf) of Effects of mental health interventions given at youth-friendly health services and integrated youth services: a systematic review protocol
Altered breathing pattern and thoracic mobility in women with fibromyalgia: A case-control study

Jonsson, Kent; Pikwer, Andreas; Olsson, Erik; Peterson, Magnus

Part of Journal of Pain, 2025
- DOI for Altered breathing pattern and thoracic mobility in women with fibromyalgia: A case-control study
- Download full text (pdf) of Altered breathing pattern and thoracic mobility in women with fibromyalgia: A case-control study
Involving people with lived experiences in the study of a behavioral stress-recovery e-intervention for myocardial infarction patients younger than 55 with cardiac distress: a study protocol.

Almén, Niclas; Elofsson, Ulf O E; Lissåker, Claudia T; Held, Claes et al.

Part of Research Involvement and Engagement, 2025
- DOI for Involving people with lived experiences in the study of a behavioral stress-recovery e-intervention for myocardial infarction patients younger than 55 with cardiac distress: a study protocol.
- Download full text (pdf) of Involving people with lived experiences in the study of a behavioral stress-recovery e-intervention for myocardial infarction patients younger than 55 with cardiac distress: a study protocol.
An internet-delivered psychoeducational intervention (Fex-Can 2.0) targeting fertility-related distress and sexual dysfunction in young adults diagnosed with cancer: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial with an internal pilot phase

Skog, Rebecca; Olsson, Erik; Gorman, Jessica R.; Bober, Sharon L. et al.

Part of PLOS ONE, 2025
- DOI for An internet-delivered psychoeducational intervention (Fex-Can 2.0) targeting fertility-related distress and sexual dysfunction in young adults diagnosed with cancer: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial with an internal pilot phase
- Download full text (pdf) of An internet-delivered psychoeducational intervention (Fex-Can 2.0) targeting fertility-related distress and sexual dysfunction in young adults diagnosed with cancer: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial with an internal pilot phase
Mental health status and quality of life after an acute myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries or takotsubo syndrome: a systematic review

Leissner, Philip; Olsson, Erik; Rondung, Elisabet; Sundelin, Runa et al.

Part of European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2025
- DOI for Mental health status and quality of life after an acute myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries or takotsubo syndrome: a systematic review
- Download full text (pdf) of Mental health status and quality of life after an acute myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries or takotsubo syndrome: a systematic review
Emotional Distress in Younger (<55 Years) and Older (≥55) Patients After a First-Time Myocardial Infarction and Its Prospective Associations With Working Status and Secondary Preventive Goals Among the Younger Cohort: Insights From the Swedish SWEDEHEART Registry Study

Almén, Niclas; Leissner, Philip; Hambraeus, Kristina; Borg, Sabina et al.

Part of Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 2025
- DOI for Emotional Distress in Younger (<55 Years) and Older (≥55) Patients After a First-Time Myocardial Infarction and Its Prospective Associations With Working Status and Secondary Preventive Goals Among the Younger Cohort: Insights From the Swedish SWEDEHEART Registry Study
- Download full text (pdf) of Emotional Distress in Younger (<55 Years) and Older (≥55) Patients After a First-Time Myocardial Infarction and Its Prospective Associations With Working Status and Secondary Preventive Goals Among the Younger Cohort: Insights From the Swedish SWEDEHEART Registry Study
Post–Myocardial Infarction Psychological Distress: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Levine, Glenn N.; Carney, Robert M.; Cohen, Beth E.; Dunn, Susan L. et al.

Part of Circulation, 2025
- DOI for Post–Myocardial Infarction Psychological Distress: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Psychometric properties of the Swedish cardiac anxiety questionnaire: a Rasch analysis

Leissner, Philip; Johansson, Magnus; Mars, Katarina; Held, Claes et al.

Part of Scientific Reports, 2025
- DOI for Psychometric properties of the Swedish cardiac anxiety questionnaire: a Rasch analysis
- Download full text (pdf) of Psychometric properties of the Swedish cardiac anxiety questionnaire: a Rasch analysis
Prevalence and social determinants of anxiety and depressive disorders and symptoms among adults in Ghana: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Awortwe, Victoria; Maharani, Febrina; Daivadanam, Meena; Adjorlolo, Samuel et al.

Part of Global Mental Health, 2025
- DOI for Prevalence and social determinants of anxiety and depressive disorders and symptoms among adults in Ghana: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Download full text (pdf) of Prevalence and social determinants of anxiety and depressive disorders and symptoms among adults in Ghana: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Prevalence and social determinants of anxiety and depressive disorders and symptoms among adults in Ghana: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Awortwe, Victoria; Maharani, Febrina; Daivadanam, Meena; Adjorlolo, Samuel et al.

Part of Global Mental Health, 2025
- DOI for Prevalence and social determinants of anxiety and depressive disorders and symptoms among adults in Ghana: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Download full text (pdf) of Prevalence and social determinants of anxiety and depressive disorders and symptoms among adults in Ghana: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Effects of beta-blockers on quality of life and well-being in patients with myocardial infarction and preserved left ventricular function: a prespecified substudy from REDUCE-AMI

Mars, Katarina; Humphries, Sophia; Leissner, Philip; Jonsson, Martin et al.

Part of European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy, p. 708-718, 2024
- DOI for Effects of beta-blockers on quality of life and well-being in patients with myocardial infarction and preserved left ventricular function: a prespecified substudy from REDUCE-AMI
- Download full text (pdf) of Effects of beta-blockers on quality of life and well-being in patients with myocardial infarction and preserved left ventricular function: a prespecified substudy from REDUCE-AMI
Short- and long-term effects of beta-blockers on symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with myocardial infarction and preserved left ventricular function: a pre-specified quality of life sub-study from the REDUCE-AMI trial

Leissner, Philip; Mars, Katarina; Humphries, Sophia; Karlström, Patric et al.

Part of European Heart Journal, p. 789-797, 2024
- DOI for Short- and long-term effects of beta-blockers on symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with myocardial infarction and preserved left ventricular function: a pre-specified quality of life sub-study from the REDUCE-AMI trial
- Download full text (pdf) of Short- and long-term effects of beta-blockers on symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with myocardial infarction and preserved left ventricular function: a pre-specified quality of life sub-study from the REDUCE-AMI trial
An internet-delivered intervention targeting fertility-related distress and sexual dysfunction following cancer: a randomized controlled trial with an internal pilot phase

Skog, Rebecca; Olsson, Erik; Gorman, Jessica; Bober, Sharon et al.

Part of Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice, p. 101-101, 2024
Prevalence and social determinants of anxiety and depression among adults in Ghana systematic review

Awortwe, Victoria; Maharani, Flaherti; Daivadanam, Meena; Adjorlolo, Samuel et al.

Part of European Journal of Public Health, 2024
- DOI for Prevalence and social determinants of anxiety and depression among adults in Ghana systematic review
Randomized controlled trial of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy in myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries or takotsubo syndrome

Leissner, Philip; Sundelin, Runa; Rondung, Elisabet; Humphries, Sophia et al.

NaN
Experiences of using the DDS-17 a screening instrument for diabetes distress: A qualitative study of its clinical utility

Josefsson, Cecilia; Bergkvist, Karin; Hedström, Mariann; Olsson, Erik et al.

NaN
Reliability and validity of Swedish versions of the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire and the Diabetes Distress Scale

Josefsson, Cecilia; Pöder, Ulrika; Hedström, Mariann; Olsson, Erik

NaN

Part of research areas

Digital Health and Mental Health Unit