What is the Recurrent Coronary Prevention Project? What did the interventions consist of? What were the main study findings, and what is a plausible competing explanation for the promising results?

The Recurrent Coronary Prevention Project tested whether targeting Type A behaviours decreases recurrence of cardiac events in those who have suffered a heart attack. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: standard cardiac counselling or intensive intervention to change Type A behaviour. The Type A personality intervention took place in group sessions and consisted of psychoeducation about Type A behaviour, identification of triggers, how to reduce hostility and time urgency and how to foster patience. After three years, those who received the Type A intervention reduced those behaviours and had about half as many cardiac events than did those assigned to the control condition. It may be that targeting the Type A behaviours was the active ingredient and the direct cause of benefits, but it may also be that the regular social contact and social support involved in the group sessions played a role. Communication of/discussing emotions may also have had a therapeutic effect.