Online therapy for stress and anxiety in heart attack patients with non-obstructive arteries

E-health Treatment of Stress and Anxiety in Stockholm Myocardial Infarction With Non-obstructive Coronaries Study

Not applicable Interventional Karolinska Institutet · NCT04178434

This study is testing if online therapy can help heart attack patients with non-blocked arteries feel less stressed and anxious.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment64 (estimated)
Ages35 Years to 79 Years
SexAll
SponsorKarolinska Institutet Academic / other
Locations1 site (Stockholm)
Trial IDNCT04178434 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study focuses on patients who have experienced a myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries and takotsubo syndrome, conditions often accompanied by high levels of stress and anxiety. It aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention designed to alleviate these psychological symptoms. The study will randomly assign participants to receive this online therapy, which has previously shown benefits in similar patient populations with obstructive coronary arteries. The goal is to provide a new treatment alternative for this specific group of patients.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals aged 35-80 with a diagnosis of MINOCA or takotsubo syndrome and elevated stress or anxiety levels.

Not a fit: Patients with strong clinical suspicion of myocarditis, spontaneous coronary artery dissection, or other specific cardiac conditions may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce stress and anxiety levels in patients suffering from myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy can effectively reduce morbidity in patients with obstructive coronary arteries, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* a suspected diagnosis of MINOCA or takotsubo syndrome with coronary angiography without diameter stenosis ≥50%
* age 35-80 years
* admission-ECG with sinus rhythm
* PSS-14 ≥ 25 and/or HADS-A ≥ 8 during admission
* reading and writing proficiency in Swedish
* computer/Internet access and literacy

Exclusion Criteria:

* strong clinical suspicion of myocarditis
* spontaneous coronary artery dissection
* acute pulmonary embolism
* acute myocardial infarction type 2
* cardiomyopathy other than takotsubo syndrome
* a previous myocardial infarction due to CAD
* expected poor compliance to behavioural therapy
* not likely to survive \> one year due to for example cancer

Where this trial is running

Stockholm

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Myocardial InfarctionMyocardial infarctionNon-obstructive coronary arteriesTakotsubo syndrome
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.