Positive Psychology for Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients: a Randomized, Controlled Pilot Trial

The initial study visit will occur in-person two weeks after discharge from the hospital. Participants will meet with a member of the study staff (the study "trainer") and complete self-report questionnaires assessing health behavior adherence and mental and physical health. Then, participants will be randomized to receive the positive psychology + motivational interviewing or the motivational interviewing health education interventions. A study interventionist will provide a treatment manual specific to their condition, review the rationale for the initial exercise, and assign the first exercise. If the participant is in the positive psychology + motivational interviewing condition, the trainer will explain the rationale for both the positive psychology and goal-setting portions of the program, and will be assigned the first exercise. Similarly, if the participant is randomized into the motivational interviewing health education program, the interventionist will introduce them to the program and assign the first exercise. Participants in both groups will then be given an accelerometer, which they will be asked to wear for 7 days to ensure that they are comfortable with the device and that useable data can be obtained from the participant. Participants in both groups will then complete twelve 30-minute weekly phone sessions with a study trainer. The phone sessions primarily will include a review of the prior week's session content and a discussion of the rationale and assignment of the next week's exercise/assignment. Upon the completion of these calls, and again at a final follow-up timepoint at 24 weeks, a blinded member of the study staff will call participants to administer self-report outcome measures. Participants will also be asked to wear an accelerometer at each of these follow-up timepoints as an objective measure of physical activity, which they will return by mail to the study staff.