The path not taken: Distinguishing individuals who die by suicide from those who die by natural causes despite a shared history of suicide attempt.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify variables that distinguish suicide risk among individuals with previous suicide attempts. METHOD: Using psychological autopsy procedures, we evaluated 86 decedents who had at least one lifetime suicide attempt before eventual death by suicide (n = 65) or natural causes (n = 21). RESULTS: The Suicide Death group was more likely to be male, to have alcohol in the toxicology report at time of death, and to have a depression diagnosis, while the Natural Cause Death group was more likely to have personality disorder traits, a polysubstance use disorder, higher reported health stress, and an antidepressant in the toxicology report at time of death. Hopelessness and ambivalence were found to distinguish between groups during the 6 months before death. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest important differences between individuals with a shared history of a suicide attempt who die by suicide versus natural causes.

Use of text messages to increase positive affect and promote physical activity in patients with heart disease: The Promoting Activity in Cardiac Patients via Text Messages (PACT) pilot study.

Adherence to physical activity in patients with serious heart disease is critical to recovery and survival. In-person programs to promote activity in cardiac patients have been poorly attended, and increasingly patients are focused on mobile, self-management-based approaches to health. Accordingly, we completed a one-arm trial of a novel one-way 14-day text message intervention among 40 patients with a prior acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The two-pronged psychological-behavioral intervention alternated daily messages focused on promoting psychological well-being with messages providing specific education/advice regarding physical activity. All messages were successfully transmitted, and nearly all participants found the intervention to be helpful (n=37; 92.5%) and performed at least one specific health-related action in response to a text message (n=35; 87.5%). Post-intervention, participants had improvements in happiness (Cohen's d=0.25), determination (d=0.37), depression (d=-0.01), and anxiety (d=-0.13), though not optimism. Moreover, participants reported an increase in moderate physical activity of 105 minutes/week (baseline: 261 [SD 265] minutes/week, follow-up: 366 [SD 519]; d=0.25). These improvements were largely maintained two weeks later, with further increases in physical activity (414 [SD 570] minutes/week). Text messaging focused on well-being and physical activity was well-accepted and associated with improvements in activity and mental health in this high-risk clinical population.

Positive psychological constructs and health behavior adherence in heart failure: A qualitative research study.

Psychological well-being may play an important role in health behavior adherence and cardiovascular health, but there has been limited study of well-being in patients with heart failure. In this descriptive qualitative research study, we interviewed 30 patients with heart failure to explore their psychological experiences with heart failure and the perceived associations between positive psychological constructs and adherence to physical activity, diet, and medication recommendations. Interviews were transcribed, then coded in NVivo using directed and conventional content analysis, and the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was applied to report our findings. Participants spontaneously reported positive psychological constructs both during an acute phase of illness and 3 months later. Participants most commonly experienced gratitude, acceptance, connectedness, and faith in the setting of heart failure. In contrast, pride, determination, and hope were identified most frequently as playing a role in health behavior adherence. Finally, participants reported a reinforcing relationship between positive constructs and health behavior engagement. These findings suggest that interventions to boost positive constructs have the potential to improve well-being and health behavior adherence in patients with heart failure.

Acute stressors and clinical characteristics differentiate death by suicide, accident, or natural causes among illicit and prescription opiate users.

BACKGROUND: Opiate misuse has reached epidemic levels. Prevention efforts depend on distinguishing opiate users from abusers. The current study compared opioid users who died by natural cases, accidents, and suicide using psychological autopsy methods. Groups were compared on substance use characteristics, treatment history, experiences of negative life events, and circumstances at the time of death. METHODS: Substance use and suicide risk were evaluated using psychological autopsy methods in 63 decedents with positive toxicology for opiates at death divided into three groups: adults dying by suicide (n = 19), accident (n = 19), and natural causes (n = 25). Groups were compared on several dependent measures, using chi-square analyses to examine categorical variables and one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) to examine continuous variables. RESULTS: Individuals who died by suicide were similar in many ways to adults who died by an accidental overdose. However, suicide completers were more likely to have struggled with severe depression, and previously attempted suicide, whereas the accidental overdose sample was more likely to display a chronic pattern of severe drug abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The current study helps to distinguish between opiate users who are at risk for death by an accidental or intentional overdose. In the ongoing opiate crisis, clinicians must understand the risk of overdose and the nuances of accidental behaviors compared to purposeful ones. Signs of suicidal planning, relevant psychopathology, and ongoing life stress may be useful points of intervention for stopping the increasing number of deaths among opiate users.

A positive psychology intervention for patients with bipolar depression: a randomized pilot trial.

Background: There are few effective treatments for bipolar depression, a common and debilitating illness.Aims: We aimed to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a four-week, telephone-delivered positive psychology (PP) intervention for patients with bipolar depression.Methods: Twenty-five patients hospitalized for bipolar depression were randomized to receive a PP (n = 14) or control condition (CC; n = 11) intervention. Following discharge, participants completed weekly exercises and phone calls with a study trainer. PP intervention feasibility was assessed by the number of exercises completed, and acceptability was examined on five-point Likert-type scales of ease and utility. Between-group differences on psychological constructs at 4 and 8 weeks post-enrollment were assessed using mixed effects regression models.Results: Participants in the PP group completed an average of three out of four PP exercises and found PP exercises to be subjectively helpful, though neither easy nor difficult. Compared to CC, the PP intervention led to trends towards greater improvements in positive affect and optimism at follow-up, with large effect sizes (modified Cohen's d = 0.95-1.24). PP had variable, non-significant effects on negative psychological constructs.Conclusions: Larger, randomized trials are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of this intervention in this high-risk population.

Neurasthenia: Modern Malady or Historical Relic?

Neurasthenia was a popular diagnosis from 1869 through 1930. Despite being discarded, the core symptoms of neurasthenia can still be found throughout modern society. The present article reviews the symptoms, common course, proposed causes, and common treatments for neurasthenia. Similarities are seen in several familiar diagnoses, including depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. Through reviewing the trends of neurasthenia, modern doctors may learn more about the subtleties of the diagnostic process, as well as the patient-physician relationship. The goal is to learn from the past as it relates to current problems that may be related to the stress of modern living. The history of neurasthenia is presented as it relates to problems that may remain today.

State Gratitude for One's Life and Health after an Acute Coronary Syndrome: Prospective Associations with Physical Activity, Medical Adherence and Re-hospitalizations.

Gratitude may be associated with beneficial health outcomes, but studies of this association have been mixed, and in these studies gratitude has often been conceptualized as a stable, unidimensional trait. We used four specific items to examine the prospective association of state- and domain-specific gratitude with medical outcomes among 152 patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome. State gratitude for one's health 2 weeks post-event was associated with increased physical activity (measured via accelerometer) 6 months later, controlling for relevant demographic, social, medical and psychological factors (ß=340.9; 95% confidence interval=53.4-628.4; p=.020). Gratitude for one's life was associated with increased self-reported medical adherence at 6 months on the maximally adjusted model (ß=.60; 95% confidence interval=.16-1.04; p=.008); no gratitude items were associated with rehospitalizations. In contrast, dispositional gratitude, measured by the Gratitude Questionnaire-6, was less dynamic and responsive to change over the 6-month period and was not associated with physical activity.

A Positive Psychology Intervention to Promote Health Behaviors in Heart Failure: A Proof-of-Concept Trial.

Patients with heart failure (HF) frequently struggle to adhere to health behaviors, and psychological factors may contribute to nonadherence. We examined the feasibility and acceptability of a 10-week, positive psychology (PP)-based intervention to promote health behavior adherence in patients (N = 10) with mild to moderate HF and suboptimal health behavior adherence. Participants engaged in weekly phone sessions, completed PP exercises (e.g., writing a gratitude letter, using a personal strength), and set goals related to diet, medication adherence, and physical activity. Feasibility was assessed by the number of sessions completed, and acceptability by participant ratings of ease and utility. Preliminary efficacy was measured by changes in psychological and adherence outcomes. The intervention was feasible (87% of exercises completed) and acceptable. Furthermore, in exploratory analyses, the intervention was associated with improvements in psychological and health behavior adherence outcomes. Larger, randomized trials are needed to further investigate the utility of this intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02938052.

Digital phenotyping of suicidal thoughts.

BACKGROUND: To examine whether there are subtypes of suicidal thinking using real-time digital monitoring, which allows for the measurement of such thoughts with greater temporal granularity than ever before possible. METHODS: We used smartphone-based real-time monitoring to assess suicidal thoughts four times per day in two samples: Adults who attempted suicide in the past year recruited from online forums (n = 51 participants with a total of 2,889 responses, surveyed over 28 days; ages ranged from 18 to 38 years) and psychiatric inpatients with recent suicidal ideation or attempts (n = 32 participants with a total of 640 responses, surveyed over the duration of inpatient treatment [mean stay = 8.79 days], ages ranged 23-68 years). Latent profile analyses were used to identify distinct phenotypes of suicidal thinking based on the frequency, intensity, and variability of such thoughts. RESULTS: Across both samples, five distinct phenotypes of suicidal thinking emerged that differed primarily on the intensity and variability of suicidal thoughts. Participants whose profile was characterized by more severe, persistent suicidal thoughts (i.e., higher mean and lower variability around the mean) were most likely to have made a recent suicide attempt. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal thinking has historically been studied as a homogeneous construct, but using newly available monitoring technology we discovered five profiles of suicidal thinking. Key questions for future research include how these phenotypes prospectively relate to future suicidal behaviors, and whether they represent remain stable or trait-like over longer periods.

A longitudinal investigation of the Concise Health Risk Tracking Self-Report (CHRT-SR) in suicidal patients during and after hospitalization.

The Concise Health Risk Tracking Self-Report (CHRT-SR) scale is a brief self-report instrument to assess suicide risk. Initial investigations have indicated good psychometric properties in psychiatric outpatients. The aims of this paper were to examine the construct validity and factor structure of the twelve- (CHRT-SR12) and seven-item (CHRT-SR7) versions and to test if clinically expected within-person changes in suicide risk over time were measurable using the CHRT-SR in two study cohorts hospitalized for suicidal ideation or behavior: (1) patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who participated in a psychological intervention trial, n = 65, and (2) participants with bipolar disorder or MDD in an observational study, n = 44. The CHRT-SR12 and self-report measures of hopelessness, depression, and positive psychological states were administered during admission and several times post-discharge. Both versions showed good internal consistency in inpatients and confirmed the three-factor structure (i.e., hopelessness, perceived lack of social support and active suicidal ideation and plans) found in outpatients. CHRT-SR scores had strong correlations with negative and positive affective constructs in the expected directions, and indicated decreases in suicide risk following discharge, in line with clinical expectations. The CHRT-SR12 and CHRT-SR7 are promising self-report measures for assessing suicide risk in very high-risk patient populations.

Magnitude and sources of distress in mid-life adults with chronic medical illness: an exploratory mixed-methods analysis.

Most mid-life adults have at least one chronic medical condition (CMC) and are at risk for developing additional CMCs. Stressors specific to this life stage may contribute to CMC development by hindering healthy behaviors. The goal of this study was to compare sources and intensity of distress, as they relate to health behaviors, between mid-life and non-mid-life adults with CMCs. We utilized a mixed-methods approach by analyzing quantitative self-report measures of psychiatric symptoms and psychological well-being, with in-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews to identify sources of stress in three cohorts of patients with CMCs (heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease). Between-group differences on self-report measures were compared via independent samples t-tests and relevant themes from interview transcripts were compared via chi-square analysis. We found that mid-life participants (n = 30) reported greater psychological distress (depression/anxiety) than non-mid-life (n = 62) participants (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores 13.8 [SD 7.3] vs. 10.6 [SD 6.6]; t(90)=2.13; p = .035), and qualitative analysis revealed several specific sources of stress significantly more common (p < .001) in mid-life adults. Interventions targeting the needs of this population could reduce distress, improve health behaviors, and have a major impact on public health.

Examination of real-time fluctuations in suicidal ideation and its risk factors: Results from two ecological momentary assessment studies.

Two studies examined 2 important but previously unanswered questions about the experience of suicidal ideation: (a) How does suicidal ideation vary over short periods of time?, and (b) To what degree do risk factors for suicidal ideation vary over short periods and are such changes associated with changes in suicidal ideation? Participants in Study 1 were 54 adults who had attempted suicide in the previous year and completed 28 days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA; average of 2.51 assessments per day; 2,891 unique assessments). Participants in Study 2 were 36 adult psychiatric inpatients admitted for suicide risk who completed EMA throughout their time in the hospital (average stay of 10.32 days; average 2.48 assessments per day; 649 unique assessments). These studies revealed 2 key findings: (a) For nearly all participants, suicidal ideation varied dramatically over the course of most days: more than 1-quarter (Study 1 = 29%; Study 2 = 28%) of all ratings of suicidal ideation were a standard deviation above or below the previous response from a few hours earlier and nearly all (Study 1 = 94.1%; Study 2 = 100%) participants had at least 1 instance of intensity of suicidal ideation changing by a standard deviation or more from 1 response to the next. (b) Across both studies, well-known risk factors for suicidal ideation such as hopelessness, burdensomeness, and loneliness also varied considerably over just a few hours and correlated with suicidal ideation, but were limited in predicting short-term change in suicidal ideation. These studies represent the most fine-grained examination of suicidal ideation ever conducted. The results advance the understanding of how suicidal ideation changes over short periods and provide a novel method of improving the short-term prediction of suicidal ideation. (PsycINFO Database Record

Non-cardiac Chest Pain: A Review for the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrist.

BACKGROUND: Patients presenting with chest pain to general practice or emergency providers represent a unique challenge, as the differential is broad and varies widely in acuity. Importantly, most cases of chest pain in both acute and general practice settings are ultimately found to be non-cardiac in origin, and a substantial proportion of patients experiencing non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) suffer significant disability. In light of emerging evidence that mental health providers can serve a key role in the care of patients with NCCP, knowledge of the differential diagnosis, psychiatric co-morbidities, and therapeutic techniques for NCCP would be of great use to both consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatrists and other mental health providers. METHODS: We reviewed prior published work on (1) the appropriate medical workup of the acute presentation of chest pain, (2) the relevant medical and psychiatric differential diagnosis for chest pain determined to be non-cardiac in origin, (3) the management of related conditions in psychosomatic medicine, and (4) management strategies for patients with NCCP. RESULTS: We identified key differential diagnostic and therapeutic considerations for psychosomatic medicine providers in 3 different clinical contexts: acute care in the emergency department, inpatient C-L psychiatry, and outpatient C-L psychiatry. We also identified several gaps in the literature surrounding the short-term and long-term management of NCCP in patients with psychiatric etiologies or co-morbid psychiatric conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Though some approaches to the care of patients with NCCP have been developed, more work is needed to determine the most effective management techniques for this unique and high-morbidity population.

Associations Between Psychological Constructs and Cardiac Biomarkers After Acute Coronary Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Psychological constructs are associated with cardiovascular health, but the biological mechanisms mediating these relationships are unknown. We examined relationships between psychological constructs and markers of inflammation, endothelial function, and myocardial strain in a cohort of post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. METHODS: Participants (N = 164) attended study visits 2 weeks and 6 months after ACS. During these visits, they completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms, anxiety, optimism, and gratitude; and blood samples were collected for measurement of biomarkers reflecting inflammation, endothelial function, and myocardial strain. Generalized estimating equations and linear regression analyses were performed to examine concurrent and prospective relationships between psychological constructs and biomarkers. RESULTS: In concurrent analyses, depressive symptoms were associated with elevated markers of inflammation (interleukin-17: ß = .047; 95% confidence interval [CI] = .010-.083]), endothelial dysfunction (endothelin-1: ß = .020; 95% [CI] = .004-.037]), and myocardial strain (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide: ß = .045; 95% [CI] = .008-.083]), independent of age, sex, medical variables, and anxiety, whereas anxiety was not associated with these markers in multivariable adjusted models. Optimism and gratitude were associated with lower levels of markers of endothelial dysfunction (endothelin-1: gratitude: ß = -.009; 95% [CI] = -.017 to - .001]; optimism: ß = -.009; 95% [CI] = -.016 to - .001]; soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1: gratitude: ß = -.007; 95% [CI] = -.014 to - .000]), independent of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Psychological constructs at 2 weeks were not prospectively associated with biomarkers at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms were associated with more inflammation, myocardial strain, and endothelial dysfunction in the 6 months after ACS, whereas positive psychological constructs were linked to better endothelial function. Larger prospective studies may clarify the directionality of these relationships. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01709669.

The effects of optimism and gratitude on adherence, functioning and mental health following an acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of optimism and gratitude on self-reported health behavior adherence, physical functioning and emotional well-being after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: Among 156 patients, we examined associations between optimism and gratitude measured 2 weeks post-ACS and 6-month outcomes: adherence to medical recommendations, mental and physical health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical functioning, depressive symptoms and anxiety. Multivariable linear regression models were used, controlling for increasing levels of adjustment. RESULTS: Optimism [ß=.11, standard error (S.E.)=.05, P=.038] and gratitude (ß=.10, S.E.=.05, P=.027) at 2 weeks were associated with subsequent self-reported adherence to medical recommendations (diet, exercise, medication adherence, stress reduction) at 6 months in fully adjusted models. Two-week optimism and gratitude were associated with improvements in mental HRQoL (optimism: ß=.44, S.E.=.13, P=.001; gratitude: ß=.33, S.E.=.12, P=.005) and reductions in symptoms of depression (optimism: ß=-.11, S.E.=.05, P=.039; gratitude: ß=-.10, S.E.=.05, P=.028) and anxiety (optimism: ß=-.15, S.E.=.05, P=.004; gratitude: ß=-.10, S.E.=.05, P=.034) at 6 months. CONCLUSION: Optimism and gratitude at 2 weeks post-ACS were associated with higher self-reported adherence and improved emotional well-being 6 months later, independent of negative emotional states. Optimism and gratitude may help recovery from an ACS. Interventions promoting these positive constructs could help improve adherence and well-being.

Understanding motivations to participate in an observational research study: Why do patients enroll?

By understanding common motivations for participating in observational research studies, clinicians may better understand the perceived benefits of research participation from their clients' perspective. We enrolled 164 cardiac patients in a study about the effects of gratitude and optimism. Two weeks post-enrollment, participants completed a four-item questionnaire regarding motivations for study enrollment. Altruistic motivation ranked highest, while intellectual, health-related, and financial motivations rated lower. Four subgroups of participants emerged, each with distinct characteristics and different priorities for participating. These findings may help front-line clinicians to understand which motivations for participation apply to their clients who enroll in non-treatment-based research projects.

Relationship of optimism and suicidal ideation in three groups of patients at varying levels of suicide risk.

Optimism has been associated with reduced suicidal ideation, but there have been few studies in patients at high suicide risk. We analyzed data from three study populations (total N = 319) with elevated risk of suicide: (1) patients with a recent acute cardiovascular event, (2) patients hospitalized for heart disease who had depression or an anxiety disorder, and (3) patients psychiatrically hospitalized for suicidal ideation or following a suicide attempt. For each study we analyzed the association between optimism (measured by the Life-Orientation Test-Revised) and suicidal ideation, and then completed an exploratory random effects meta-analysis of the findings to synthesize this data. The meta-analysis of the three studies showed that higher levels of self-reported optimism were associated with a lower likelihood of suicidal ideation (odds ratio [OR] = .89, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .85-.95, z = 3.94, p < .001), independent of age, gender, and depressive symptoms. This association held when using the subscales of the Life Orientation Test-Revised scale that measured higher optimism (OR = .84, 95% CI = .76-.92, z = 3.57, p < .001) and lower pessimism (OR = .83, 95% CI = .75-.92], z = 3.61, p < .001). These results also held when suicidal ideation was analyzed as an ordinal variable. Our findings suggest that optimism may be associated with a lower risk of suicidal ideation, above and beyond the effects of depressive symptoms, for a wide range of patients with clinical conditions that place them at elevated risk for suicide.

Effects of Optimism and Gratitude on Physical Activity, Biomarkers, and Readmissions After an Acute Coronary Syndrome: The Gratitude Research in Acute Coronary Events Study.

BACKGROUND: Positive psychological constructs, such as optimism, are associated with beneficial health outcomes. However, no study has separately examined the effects of multiple positive psychological constructs on behavioral, biological, and clinical outcomes after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Accordingly, we aimed to investigate associations of baseline optimism and gratitude with subsequent physical activity, prognostic biomarkers, and cardiac rehospitalizations in post-ACS patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Participants were enrolled during admission for ACS and underwent assessments at baseline (2 weeks post-ACS) and follow-up (6 months later). Associations between baseline positive psychological constructs and subsequent physical activity/biomarkers were analyzed using multivariable linear regression. Associations between baseline positive constructs and 6-month rehospitalizations were assessed via multivariable Cox regression. Overall, 164 participants enrolled and completed the baseline 2-week assessments. Baseline optimism was significantly associated with greater physical activity at 6 months (n=153; ß=102.5; 95% confidence interval, 13.6-191.5; P=0.024), controlling for baseline activity and sociodemographic, medical, and negative psychological covariates. Baseline optimism was also associated with lower rates of cardiac readmissions at 6 months (n=164), controlling for age, sex, and medical comorbidity (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, [0.86-0.98]; P=0.006). There were no significant relationships between optimism and biomarkers. Gratitude was minimally associated with post-ACS outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Post-ACS optimism, but not gratitude, was prospectively and independently associated with superior physical activity and fewer cardiac readmissions. Whether interventions that target optimism can successfully increase optimism or improve cardiovascular outcomes in post-ACS patients is not yet known, but can be tested in future studies. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01709669.

Design and baseline data from the Gratitude Research in Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) study.

BACKGROUND: Positive psychological constructs, especially optimism, have been linked with superior cardiovascular health. However, there has been minimal study of positive constructs in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), despite the prevalence and importance of this condition. Furthermore, few studies have examined multiple positive psychological constructs and multiple cardiac-related outcomes within the same cohort to determine specifically which positive construct may affect a particular cardiac outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Gratitude Research in Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) study examines the association between optimism/gratitude 2weeks post-ACS and subsequent clinical outcomes. The primary outcome measure is physical activity at 6months, measured via accelerometer, and key secondary outcome measures include levels of prognostic biomarkers and rates of nonelective cardiac rehospitalization at 6months. These relationships will be analyzed using multivariable linear regression, controlling for sociodemographic, medical, and negative psychological factors; associations between baseline positive constructs and subsequent rehospitalizations will be assessed via Cox regression. RESULTS: Overall, 164 participants enrolled and completed the baseline 2-week assessment; the cohort had a mean age of 61.5+/?10.5years and was 84% men; this was the first ACS for 58% of participants. CONCLUSION: The GRACE study will determine whether optimism and gratitude are prospectively and independently associated with physical activity and other critical outcomes in the 6months following an ACS. If these constructs are associated with superior outcomes, this may highlight the importance of these constructs as independent prognostic factors post-ACS.

Relationships between positive psychological constructs and health outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review.

Depression and anxiety are well-known to be associated with adverse health outcomes in cardiac patients. However, there has been less work synthesizing the effects of positive psychological constructs (e.g., optimism) on health-related outcomes in cardiac patients. We completed a systematic review of prospective observational studies using established guidelines. A search of PubMed and PsycINFO databases from inception to January 2014 was used to identify articles. To be eligible, studies were required to assess effects of a positive psychological construct on subsequent health-related outcomes (including mortality, rehospitalizations, self-reported health status) in patients with established heart disease. Exploratory random effects' meta-analyses were performed on the subset of studies examining mortality or rehospitalizations. Seventy-seven analyses from 30 eligible studies (N=14,624) were identified. Among studies with 100 or more participants, 65.0% of all analyses and 64.7% of analyses adjusting for one or more covariates reported a significant (p<.05) association between positive psychological constructs and subsequent health outcomes. An exploratory meta-analysis of 11 studies showed that positive constructs were associated with reduced rates of rehospitalization or mortality in unadjusted (odds ratio=.87; 95% confidence interval [.83, .92]; p<.001) and adjusted analyses (odds ratio=.89; 95% confidence interval [.84, .91]; p<.001); there was little suggestion of publication bias. Among cardiac patients, positive psychological constructs appear to be prospectively associated with health outcomes in most but not all studies. Additional work is needed to identify which constructs are most important to cardiac health, and whether interventions can cultivate positive attributes and improve clinical outcomes.