 The German Heart Society, DGS, has recently published an updated version of their 2008 policy statement on psychosomatic medicine and cardiovascular diseases. This new policy statement focuses on coronary heart disease, CHD, arrhythmias, and heart failure and includes an evaluation of gender differences and the effects of cognition and other psychosocial factors. It recommends that psychosocial risk factors be taken into account when evaluating patients risk levels and that psychosocial treatments such as antidepressants be used to manage depression in patients with CHD. Additionally, it suggests that patients with CHD should receive regular psychological support during the long-term use of implanted cardioverter defibrillator ICD. This article was authored by Ladwig, Carl Heinz, Letterbogen, Florian, Albus, Christian, and others.