ABSTRACT. The ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Increasing evidence has revealed that psychosocial factors, as independent risk factors, play an important role in ischemic heart disease. The present study aims to review the impact of the main psychological factors such as mental stress, anxiety, depression and marital stress in cardiovascular disease, and particularly in the ischemic heart disease. The results confirm that these factors may contribute not only to the evolution of coronary atherosclerosis and the long-term risk of coronary heart disease, but also to the triggering of acute cardiac events in patients with advanced atherosclerosis. Screening of cardiovascular disease in patients with psychological disorders is presumed to improve prognosis. pp. 85–92

Keywords: ischemic heart disease; psychological factors; depression; anxiety; mental stress; marital stress