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Background: Evidence suggests psychological distress is common in people with heart failure (HF) and associated with adverse clinical and quality of life outcomes. Recent national guidelines highlight that there is a need to improve psychological care in HF. Purpose: This retrospective study of 11 917 clinic letters written by specialist heart failure nurses (SHFNs) contained within 2488 patient files aimed to benchmark documented recognition and management of psychological distress in HF patients by SHFNs in 11 NHS Scotland health boards. Conclusions: The study indicated SHFN case note documentation of recognition and management of psychological distress in HF fell dramatically short of clinical guidelines. Few people with HF are recognised as having associated psychological distress and fewer still are accessing evidence-based interventions. Clinical implications: Improvement to the documentation, identification and management of psychological distress in people with HF by SHFNs should be supported by training delivered by accredited psychology practitioners. There is a need for services to have clinical pathways in place to support any increases in identification of psychological distress in HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

abstract The paper draws on the influence of the thinking of Isabel Menzies Lyth on the development of new approaches to events within group relations conferences sponsored by The Grubb Institute of Behavioural Studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]