Coping With Heart Illness

Dr. Wayne Sotile, Ph.D., director of psychological services for the Wake Forest University Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, interviews heart illness patients and advises viewers in this three-part series which looks at Patient Issues, Couple Issues, and Family Issues. Each of the tapes is divided into three sessions which address pertinent questions. In Patient Issues, Sotile explains how "normal" adjustments to heart illness vary widely, details ways to recognize depression, and suggests means for coping with anxiety brought on by increased concern over cardiovascular functions. Couple Issues examines the problems facing the spouse, and pays particular attention to changes in sexual relationships. Family Issues explores the role of play in rehabilitation, and advises viewers on discussing heart illness with children and grandchildren. These programs are not meant to provide a regimen for cardiac rehab patients to follow; the focus is exclusively on the psychological/emotional aspects, and even these topics are not covered in tremendous depth. Still, there's enough good information here that larger health collections will want to add. Recommended. (R. Pitman)