Depressive symptoms subscale of Kellner's Symptom Questionnaire (SQ). SQ is a 92-item self-report questionnaire, which yields 4 main scales including 23 items each: "depression", "anxiety", "hostility-irritability" and "somatization". This instrument helps the identification of self-perceived subclinical psychological distress. Answers are dichotomous (YES/NO or TRUE/FALSE) and rated with 0 or 1, therefore each scale score may range from 0 to 23. The higher the total score, the higher the psychological distress.

Somatic symptoms subscale of Kellner's Symptom Questionnaire (SQ). SQ is a 92-item self-report questionnaire, which yields 4 main scales including 23 items each: "depression", "anxiety", "hostility-irritability" and "somatization". This instrument helps the identification of self-perceived subclinical psychological distress. Answers are dichotomous (YES/NO or TRUE/FALSE) and rated with 0 or 1, therefore each scale score may range from 0 to 23. The higher the total score, the higher the psychological distress.

Hostility symptoms subscale of Kellner's Symptom Questionnaire (SQ). SQ is a 92-item self-report questionnaire, which yields 4 main scales including 23 items each: "depression", "anxiety", "hostility-irritability" and "somatization". This instrument helps the identification of self-perceived subclinical psychological distress. Answers are dichotomous (YES/NO or TRUE/FALSE) and rated with 0 or 1, therefore each scale score may range from 0 to 23. The higher the total score, the higher the psychological distress.

Environmental mastery dimension of the Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB). PWB, an 84-item questionnaire with a multidimensional structure, has been used to evaluate the six psychological well-being dimensions conceptualized by Carol Ryff (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, self-acceptance), which include 14 items each. Every item is defined in terms of high or low agreement on a 6-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 6); therefore each scale score may range from 14 to 84, with higher scores corresponding to greater psychological well-being.

Personal growth dimension of the Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB). PWB, an 84-item questionnaire with a multidimensional structure, has been used to evaluate the six psychological well-being dimensions conceptualized by Carol Ryff (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, self-acceptance), which include 14 items each. Every item is defined in terms of high or low agreement on a 6-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 6); therefore each scale score may range from 14 to 84, with higher scores corresponding to greater psychological well-being.

Positive relations dimension of the Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB). PWB, an 84-item questionnaire with a multidimensional structure, has been used to evaluate the six psychological well-being dimensions conceptualized by Carol Ryff (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, self-acceptance), which include 14 items each. Every item is defined in terms of high or low agreement on a 6-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 6); therefore each scale score may range from 14 to 84, with higher scores corresponding to greater psychological well-being.

Purpose in life dimension of the Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB). PWB, an 84-item questionnaire with a multidimensional structure, has been used to evaluate the six psychological well-being dimensions conceptualized by Carol Ryff (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, self-acceptance), which include 14 items each. Every item is defined in terms of high or low agreement on a 6-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 6); therefore each scale score may range from 14 to 84, with higher scores corresponding to greater psychological well-being.

Self-acceptance dimension of the Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB). PWB, an 84-item questionnaire with a multidimensional structure, has been used to evaluate the six psychological well-being dimensions conceptualized by Carol Ryff (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, self-acceptance), which include 14 items each. Every item is defined in terms of high or low agreement on a 6-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 6); therefore each scale score may range from 14 to 84, with higher scores corresponding to greater psychological well-being.

Clinical management - CM (control group)

Clinical management entails the same amount of time and attention from a professional figure than the experimental group, but specific interventions were proscribed. Such form of active control consisted of empathic listening, reviewing patients' clinical status, distress and worries, and encouragement of treatment adherence.

Total of all reporting groups

Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.

The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk index is calculated during hospital admission and provides an estimate of the probability of cardiac mortality both during hospitalization and within 6 months from hospital discharge in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

In order to calculate the GRACE risk index, the following data are needed: age, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, creatinine level, Killip class, cardiac arrest at admission, ST-segment deviation and elevated enzymes/markers.

Kellner's Symptom Questionnaire (SQ) is a 92-item self-report questionnaire, which yields 4 main scales including 23 items each: "depression", "anxiety", "hostility-irritability" and "somatization". This instrument helps the identification of self-perceived subclinical psychological distress. Answers are dichotomous (YES/NO or TRUE/FALSE) and rated with 0 or 1, therefore each scale score may range from 0 to 23. The higher the total score, the higher the psychological distress.

The Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB), an 84-item questionnaire with a multidimensional structure, has been used to evaluate the six psychological well-being dimensions conceptualized by Carol Ryff (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, self-acceptance), which include 14 items each. Every item is defined in terms of high or low agreement on a 6-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 6); therefore each scale score may range from 14 to 84, with higher scores corresponding to greater psychological well-being.

The presence of clinical depression (Major/minor depression or dysthymia) was assessed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders.(SCID-I), a semistuctured interview designed to be administered by a clinician or trained mental health professional in order to formulate psychiatric diagnoses based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Demoralization was assessed by means of the Semi-Structured Interview based on the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR), which is an observer-rated measure including skip questions if the main criteria are not satisfied.

Paykel's 20-item change version of the Clinical Interview for Depression (CID) allows a comprehensive assessment of affective symptomatology and contains 20 items rated on 7-point scales with specification of each anchor point based on severity, frequency and/or quality of symptoms. It adds a dimensional description of mental suffering to traditional psychiatric nosography (DSM). The total score is obtained by adding each of 20 items and it may range from 20 to 140. The higher the score, the worse the psychological condition.

Clinical management - CM (control group)

Clinical management entails the same amount of time and attention from a professional figure than the experimental group, but specific interventions were proscribed. Such form of active control consisted of empathic listening, reviewing patients' clinical status, distress and worries, and encouragement of treatment adherence.

Anxious symptoms subscale of Kellner's Symptom Questionnaire (SQ). SQ is a 92-item self-report questionnaire, which yields 4 main scales including 23 items each: "depression", "anxiety", "hostility-irritability" and "somatization". This instrument helps the identification of self-perceived subclinical psychological distress. Answers are dichotomous (YES/NO or TRUE/FALSE) and rated with 0 or 1, therefore each scale score may range from 0 to 23. The higher the total score, the higher the psychological distress.

Autonomy dimension of the Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB). PWB, an 84-item questionnaire with a multidimensional structure, has been used to evaluate the six psychological well-being dimensions conceptualized by Carol Ryff (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, self-acceptance), which include 14 items each. Every item is defined in terms of high or low agreement on a 6-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 6); therefore each scale score may range from 14 to 84, with higher scores corresponding to greater psychological well-being.

Frequencies of negative cardiac outcomes, such as re-hospitalizations due to cardiac complications, acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, angioplasty, cardiac surgery, and cardiac mortality occuring after the first episode of ACS.

Depressive symptoms subscale of Kellner's Symptom Questionnaire (SQ). SQ is a 92-item self-report questionnaire, which yields 4 main scales including 23 items each: "depression", "anxiety", "hostility-irritability" and "somatization". This instrument helps the identification of self-perceived subclinical psychological distress. Answers are dichotomous (YES/NO or TRUE/FALSE) and rated with 0 or 1, therefore each scale score may range from 0 to 23. The higher the total score, the higher the psychological distress.

Somatic symptoms subscale of Kellner's Symptom Questionnaire (SQ). SQ is a 92-item self-report questionnaire, which yields 4 main scales including 23 items each: "depression", "anxiety", "hostility-irritability" and "somatization". This instrument helps the identification of self-perceived subclinical psychological distress. Answers are dichotomous (YES/NO or TRUE/FALSE) and rated with 0 or 1, therefore each scale score may range from 0 to 23. The higher the total score, the higher the psychological distress.

Hostility symptoms subscale of Kellner's Symptom Questionnaire (SQ). SQ is a 92-item self-report questionnaire, which yields 4 main scales including 23 items each: "depression", "anxiety", "hostility-irritability" and "somatization". This instrument helps the identification of self-perceived subclinical psychological distress. Answers are dichotomous (YES/NO or TRUE/FALSE) and rated with 0 or 1, therefore each scale score may range from 0 to 23. The higher the total score, the higher the psychological distress.

Environmental mastery dimension of the Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB). PWB, an 84-item questionnaire with a multidimensional structure, has been used to evaluate the six psychological well-being dimensions conceptualized by Carol Ryff (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, self-acceptance), which include 14 items each. Every item is defined in terms of high or low agreement on a 6-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 6); therefore each scale score may range from 14 to 84, with higher scores corresponding to greater psychological well-being.

Personal growth dimension of the Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB). PWB, an 84-item questionnaire with a multidimensional structure, has been used to evaluate the six psychological well-being dimensions conceptualized by Carol Ryff (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, self-acceptance), which include 14 items each. Every item is defined in terms of high or low agreement on a 6-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 6); therefore each scale score may range from 14 to 84, with higher scores corresponding to greater psychological well-being.

Positive relations dimension of the Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB). PWB, an 84-item questionnaire with a multidimensional structure, has been used to evaluate the six psychological well-being dimensions conceptualized by Carol Ryff (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, self-acceptance), which include 14 items each. Every item is defined in terms of high or low agreement on a 6-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 6); therefore each scale score may range from 14 to 84, with higher scores corresponding to greater psychological well-being.

Purpose in life dimension of the Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB). PWB, an 84-item questionnaire with a multidimensional structure, has been used to evaluate the six psychological well-being dimensions conceptualized by Carol Ryff (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, self-acceptance), which include 14 items each. Every item is defined in terms of high or low agreement on a 6-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 6); therefore each scale score may range from 14 to 84, with higher scores corresponding to greater psychological well-being.

Self-acceptance dimension of the Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB). PWB, an 84-item questionnaire with a multidimensional structure, has been used to evaluate the six psychological well-being dimensions conceptualized by Carol Ryff (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, self-acceptance), which include 14 items each. Every item is defined in terms of high or low agreement on a 6-point Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 6); therefore each scale score may range from 14 to 84, with higher scores corresponding to greater psychological well-being.

Clinical management - CM (control group)

Clinical management entails the same amount of time and attention from a professional figure than the experimental group, but specific interventions were proscribed. Such form of active control consisted of empathic listening, reviewing patients' clinical status, distress and worries, and encouragement of treatment adherence.