Likely developments over the next 5–10 years

The field of cardiac psychology has evolved significantly in the last decade, leading to cementation of the role of psychological factors in cardiovascular health in the European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice in 2012. Hence, psychological factors are here to stay in the guidelines, with the hope that steps will be taken to increase the level of evidence in the next decade and that initiatives will be taken to integrate these factors in clinical practice to guide the treatment and management of patients.