Improving the psychological health of Atrial Fibrillation patients

Professor Hannah Keage, Adelaide University

Vanguard Grant

Years funded: 2026 - 2028

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart rhythm disorder that not only increases the risk of serious health problems like stroke and heart failure but is also associated with high levels of anxiety and depression. Despite these challenges, there are currently no psychological support programs designed for people living with AF. Our project seeks to address this gap by developing and undertaking initial acceptability and feasibility testing of a new, evidence-based psychological intervention tailored to the unique needs of AF patients.

To ensure our intervention is relevant and meaningful, we will work closely with people who have AF and healthcare professionals. In the first stage, we will run focus groups to better understand the main concerns and challenges faced by AF patients, such as the unpredictability of symptoms and the emotional toll of managing a chronic condition. We will also gather input from cardiologists, nurses, and allied health professionals to ensure the educational materials we develop are accurate and useful. Together, we will adapt an existing and effective psychological intervention for use in AF. The new program, called Conquer-AF, will provide education around AF and psychological symptoms, teach practical skills for managing worry, understanding symptoms, making healthy lifestyle changes, and improving emotional wellbeing.

In the second stage, we will test the acceptability and feasibility of the Conquer-AF program with a group of AF patients in Adelaide, Whyalla and Port Lincoln. Participants will take part in new psychological intervention. We will collect feedback from participants to find out how helpful and practical they find the program.

By developing and testing this psychological intervention, our project aims to reduce anxiety, depression and distress in people living with AF. With our findings, we will apply for MRFF funding for a large randomised controlled trial, testing effectiveness and implementation. In the long-term, we hope to make the Conquer-AF program widely available, working with hospitals, clinics, and digital health platforms to ensure that all AF patients can access the psychological support they need. We will share our findings with the broader community through presentations, publications, and online resources, helping to raise awareness of the importance of mental health care for people with AF.