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Healthcare
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The Mind–Heart Connection: Advances, Innovations and Implications for Public Health
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The Mind–Heart Connection: Advances, Innovations and Implications for Public Health

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 21343

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Davide Donelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Cardiology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
Interests: cardiology; neuroscience; nutraceutics; environmental health
Dr. Michele Antonelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Public Health, AUSL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Interests: preventive medicine; public health; complementary therapies; clinical nutrition; primary care; environmental health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

This Special Issue intends to bring insights into the mind–heart connection, a complex topic with multiple implications for cardiovascular medicine and mental health. In particular, this topic can be explored from different perspectives, ranging from physiological to epidemiological and clinical studies investigating the multifaceted interplay between heart physiology and brain functions, or between cardiac diseases and mental disorders. Interesting subtopics are, for example, those related to how treating cardiovascular disorders can help prevent some neuropsychiatric conditions, and vice versa, how preserving mental well-being can have a positive impact on cardiovascular prevention. Other interesting areas are heart rate variability as well as functional imaging studies investigating the role of the autonomic nervous system in the mind–heart connection, as suggested by the polyvagal theory.

This Special Issue welcomes all study types, including laboratory experiments, epidemiological investigations, clinical studies and literature reviews, with the aim of bringing forward the scientific investigation on the mind–heart connection and its implications for preventive medicine and public health.  

Dr. Davide Donelli
Dr. Michele Antonelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cardiovascular medicine
  • heart diseases
  • mental health
  • well-being
  • physiology
  • psychophysiological studies
  • polyvagal theory
  • determinants of health
  • preventive medicine
  • public health

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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9 pages, 241 KiB  
Article
Are Italian Newly Licensed Nurses Ready? A Study on Self-Perceived Clinical Autonomy in Critical Care Scenarios
by Giuseppe Stirparo, Pasquale Di Fronzo, Daniele Solla, Dario Bottignole and Luca Gambolò
Healthcare 2024, 12(8), 809; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12080809 - 9 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1336
Abstract
The experience and self-confidence of healthcare professionals play critical roles in reducing anxiety levels during emergencies. It is important to recognize the potential impact of anxiety on performance. To enhance preparedness and confidence in managing emergencies, healthcare professionals benefit from regular training and [...] Read more.
The experience and self-confidence of healthcare professionals play critical roles in reducing anxiety levels during emergencies. It is important to recognize the potential impact of anxiety on performance. To enhance preparedness and confidence in managing emergencies, healthcare professionals benefit from regular training and simulations. Additionally, repeated exposure to emergency scenarios can help modulate physiological responses. Managing anxiety effectively is key, as heightened sympathetic stimulation associated with anxiety can adversely affect performance. This study aimed to investigate nurses’ self-assessed ability to manage emergency guidelines and their self-confidence in performing tasks in critical care settings. A questionnaire was provided to 1097 nurses. We compared the self-confidence of experienced nurses (ENs) and newly licensed nurses (NLNs) in managing emergency department shifts or critical patients, and found that ENs are more confident in these scenarios. This phenomenon was also observed in subjects who had taken simulation courses, although they were still a low percentage. Most NLNs feel sufficiently ready to work in medium-intensity wards. Attending advanced training courses enhances nurses’ self-confidence and may improve patient safety management., improving patient recovery, and minimizing errors. Attending courses improves the perception of autonomy of nurses in different scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Mind–Heart Connection: Advances, Innovations and Implications for Public Health)

Other

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19 pages, 1505 KiB  
Systematic Review
Effects of Static Meditation Practice on Blood Lipid Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Michele Antonelli, Davide Donelli, Filippo Luca Gurgoglione, Davide Lazzeroni, Geza Halasz and Giampaolo Niccoli
Healthcare 2024, 12(6), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12060655 - 14 Mar 2024
Viewed by 13197
Abstract
This review aims to delineate the potential impact of static meditation practice on cholesterol and triglyceride levels. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were systematically screened up until December 2023 to identify pertinent studies. After searching the scientific literature, [...] Read more.
This review aims to delineate the potential impact of static meditation practice on cholesterol and triglyceride levels. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were systematically screened up until December 2023 to identify pertinent studies. After searching the scientific literature, 16 clinical studies (11 trials and 5 observational experiments) met the criteria for inclusion, involving a total of 1147 participants. In general, Ayurvedic-based meditation techniques were predominantly associated with lower total cholesterol levels, mindfulness-based techniques demonstrated benefits in both total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and Eastern meditation techniques with spiritual origins were primarily linked to improved serum concentrations of HDL cholesterol. Study participants mostly engaged in meditation on a daily basis, often practicing it once or even twice a day, spanning a duration ranging from a few weeks to several months. The meta-analysis shows an association between meditation practice in healthy or sub-healthy adults and reduced cholesterol levels, with an average decrease of approximately −14 mg/dL (MD = −13.91 [−23.35; −4.47] mg/dL; p = 0.02), alongside favorable and even more pronounced impacts on triglyceride levels (MD = −32.56 [−48.44; −16.68] mg/dL; p < 0.01). In summary, regular engagement in static meditation practices can be associated with lower triglyceride and, to a lesser extent, cholesterol levels. Further studies on the topic are recommended to better investigate the relationship between meditation practice and physiological parameters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Mind–Heart Connection: Advances, Innovations and Implications for Public Health)
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18 pages, 532 KiB  
Systematic Review
The Role of Emotion Dysregulation in Understanding Suicide Risk: A Systematic Review of the Literature
by Elena Rogante, Mariarosaria Cifrodelli, Salvatore Sarubbi, Alessandra Costanza, Denise Erbuto, Isabella Berardelli and Maurizio Pompili
Healthcare 2024, 12(2), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12020169 - 10 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2687
Abstract
Suicide prevention represents a global imperative, and efforts to identify potential risk factors are intensifying. Among these, emotional regulation abilities represent a transdiagnostic component that may have an impactful influence on suicidal ideation and behavior. Therefore, the present systematic review aimed to investigate [...] Read more.
Suicide prevention represents a global imperative, and efforts to identify potential risk factors are intensifying. Among these, emotional regulation abilities represent a transdiagnostic component that may have an impactful influence on suicidal ideation and behavior. Therefore, the present systematic review aimed to investigate the association between emotion dysregulation and suicidal ideation and/or behavior in adult participants. The review followed PRISMA guidelines, and the research was performed through four major electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Web of Science) for relevant titles/abstracts published from January 2013 to September 2023. The review included original studies published in peer-reviewed journals and in English that assessed the relationship between emotional regulation, as measured by the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS), and suicidal ideation and/or behavior. In total, 44 studies were considered eligible, and the results mostly revealed significant positive associations between emotion dysregulation and suicidal ideation, while the findings on suicide attempts were more inconsistent. Furthermore, the findings also confirmed the role of emotion dysregulation as a mediator between suicide and other variables. Given these results, it is important to continue investigating these constructs and conduct accurate assessments to implement effective person-centered interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Mind–Heart Connection: Advances, Innovations and Implications for Public Health)
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10 pages, 993 KiB  
Brief Report
Personality Traits Predict Self-Rated Health (SRH) in Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Patients and Healthy Controls
by Weixi Kang and Antonio Malvaso
Healthcare 2023, 11(11), 1645; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11111645 - 4 Jun 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1561
Abstract
Objective: The objective of the present study is to examine the association between Big Five personality traits and self-rated health (SRH) among individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD), and to compare this relationship with that of healthy control participants, which is of importance [...] Read more.
Objective: The objective of the present study is to examine the association between Big Five personality traits and self-rated health (SRH) among individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD), and to compare this relationship with that of healthy control participants, which is of importance as SRH can be a determinant of outcomes. Methods: The current study used data from 566 participants with CHD with a mean age of 63.00 (S.D. = 15.23) years old (61.13% males) and 8608 age- and sex-matched healthy controls with a mean age of 63.87 (S.D.= 9.60) years old (61.93% males) from the UKHLS. The current study used predictive normative modelling approaches, one-sample t tests, a hierarchical regression, and two multiple regressions. Results: The current study found that CHD patients have significantly lower Conscientiousness (t(565) = −3.84, p < 0.001, 95% C.I. [−0.28, −0.09], Cohen’s d = −0.16) and SRH (t(565) = −13.83, p < 0.001, 95% C.I. [−0.68, −0.51], and Cohen’s d = −0.58) scores compared to age and sex-matched healthy controls. Moreover, health status (controls vs. CHD patients) moderated the links between Neuroticism, Extraversion and SRH. Specifically, Neuroticism (b = −0.03, p < 0.01, 95% C.I. [−0.04, −0.01]), Openness (b = 0.04, p < 0.001, 95% C.I. [0.02, 0.06]), and Conscientiousness (b = 0.08, p < 0.001, 95% C.I. [0.06, 0.10]) were significant predictors of SRH in healthy controls, whereas Conscientiousness (b = 0.08, p < 0.05, 95% C.I. [0.01, 0.16]) and Extraversion (b = −0.09, p < 0.01, 95% C.I. [−0.15, −0.02]) were significant predictors of SRH in CHD patients. Conclusion: Based on the close associations between personality traits and SRH, and the subsequent impact on patient outcomes, the results of this study should be taken into consideration by clinicians and health professionals when developing tailored treatment and intervention programs for their patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Mind–Heart Connection: Advances, Innovations and Implications for Public Health)
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8 pages, 425 KiB  
Brief Report
Mental Health in Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Patients: Findings from the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS)
by Weixi Kang and Antonio Malvaso
Healthcare 2023, 11(10), 1364; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11101364 - 9 May 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1891
Abstract
Objectives: Mental health conditions in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) are closely related to clinical outcomes. Thus, this study’s goal is to investigate how CHD affects general and specific aspects of mental health. Methods: We analyzed data from Wave 10 Understanding Society: [...] Read more.
Objectives: Mental health conditions in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) are closely related to clinical outcomes. Thus, this study’s goal is to investigate how CHD affects general and specific aspects of mental health. Methods: We analyzed data from Wave 10 Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS), which were collected between 2018 and 2019. After removing people who had missing data, there were 450 participants who indicated that they have CHD, and 6138 age- and sex-matched healthy participants indicated that they were not clinically diagnosed with CHD. Results: The main findings were that participants with CHD had more mental health problems, as shown by the GHQ-12 summary score (t (449) = 6.00, p < 0.001, 95% C.I. [0.20, 0.40], Cohen’s d = 0.30), social dysfunction and anhedonia, (t (449) = 5.79, p < 0.001, 95% C.I. [0.20, 0.40], Cohen’s d = 0.30), depression and anxiety (t (449) = 5.04, p < 0.001, 95% C.I. [0.15, 0.33], Cohen’s d = 0.24), and loss of confidence (t (449) = 4.46, p < 0.001, 95% C.I. [0.11, 0.30], Cohen’s d = 0.21). Conclusion: This study implies that GHQ-12 is a valid assessment of mental health problems in CHD patients, and there is a need to consider how different aspects of mental health are affected by CHD rather than solely focusing on depression or anxiety problems alone in patients with CHD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Mind–Heart Connection: Advances, Innovations and Implications for Public Health)
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