This study monitored and compared levels of anxiety and depression reported by first myocardial infarction (MI) male patients and their partners, throughout the patients' hospital stay. An independent variable of a programme of supportive-educative counselling provided by a coronary care nurse was introduced to determine whether it significantly affected reactions. Sixty couples were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (a) the treatment group (in which they received the systematic programme of nursing support in addition to routine care), or (b) the control group (in which they received routine care but no other intervention). Anxiety and depression were measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale at 24 hours and 5 days after the patient's admission to hospital. At 5 days there were statistically significant differences between both groups with respect to the HAD scale mean scores. These findings strongly suggest that a simple programme of in-hospital couple counselling, provided by a coronary care nurse, statistically significantly reduces anxiety and depression in first MI male patients and anxiety in their partners.