Chronological age does not predict morale or emotional lability after myocardial infarction. Thus, physicians, family members, society, and elderly patients themselves should guard against negative stereotypes that tend to lower expectations regarding positive adaptive behavior by older patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Patients aged 65+ yrs should be treated with the same interventional strategies used in younger patients to improve behavioral, cognitive, and emotional dysfunction associated with CVD. A comprehensive psychosocial evaluation of older persons with CVD should include information from the following 6 broad areas: personality, mood and affect, cognition, functional status before the acute illness, family and social supports, and recent life changes and circumstances. A 5-step approach to treatment is suggested for use by physicians.