摘要:Although heart surgery is one of the most effective methods in treating cardiovasculardiseases, more than 50% of patients have problems in personal, social, professional adaptationafter surgery (Pogosova, 1996).According to recent studies, psychological factors contribute significantly to negativeoutcomes of coronary surgery. The main factors are: depression, anxiety, personal factorsand character traits, social isolation, and chronic life stress (Blumental, 2003; Connerney,2010; Contrada, 2008; Cserep, 2010, Gallagher, 2007; Hoyer, 2008; Pigney-Demaria,2003; Rozancki, 1999; Rymaszewska, 2003; Viars, 2009, Zaitsev, 1997).The aim of the article is to describe the association between psychological factors andthe outcomes of coronary surgery. We have studied how the patient’s attitude towardsforthcoming open heart surgery is associated with the outcomes.We have picked out four types of attitude towards forthcoming heart surgery: 1) pessimistic(no belief in recovery, surgery is threatening, damaging), 2) indifferent (no beliefin recovery, surgery will not change anything),3) optimistic but not realistic (exaggerated expectations, belief in full recovery), 4) optimisticand realistic (adequate expectations, belief in improvement).The study has shown that patients with optimistic-realistic attitudes towards forthcomingheart surgery have better outcomes, better emotional status, and shorter stays inhospital.