Conclusions We found that psychological intervention  improved psychological symptoms and reduced cardiac mortality for people with CHD .
However , there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the magnitude of these effects and the specific techniques most likely to benefit people with different presentations of CHD
Background Although psychological interventions are recommended for the management of coronary heart disease ( CHD ) , there remains considerable uncertainty regarding their effectiveness .
Randomised controlled trial of group cognitive behaviour therapy versus brief intervention for depression in cardiac patients
Objective : To determine whether a six-session group cognitive behaviour therapy ( CBT ) programme results in a greater reduction in depression symptoms than a brief intervention alone in cardiac patients with clinical ly significant symptoms of depression . Method : Fifty-seven community dwelling cardiac patients scoring > 13 on the Beck Depression Inventory-II ( BDI-II ) received a single-session brief intervention . They were then block r and omised to either six sessions of group CBT ( n = 25 ) or no further intervention ( BI ; n = 32 ) . All were re-assessed at 2 , 6 and 12 months . Differences between treatment groups in the primary ( BDI-II ) and secondary [ rates of depression ; anxiety symptoms , as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety ( HADS-A ) ] outcomes were examined using generalised linear mixed models with a r and om intercept term for the individual . Results : Significant improvements were seen for the total group from baseline to 12 months on BDI-II and HADS-A scores . However , no differences were found between the CBT and BI conditions on change in BDI-II score , rates of major depressive episode or HADS-A score . Post hoc analysis on the total group found 12-month symptom non-remission was associated with higher baseline BDI-II score ( p = 0.03 ) , more visits to health professionals 12 months prior to baseline ( p = 0.05 ) and a greater likelihood of either drinking alcohol over recommended levels or smoking at baseline ( p = 0.01 ) . Conclusions : Group CBT of up to six sessions did not result in greater reductions in depression or anxiety symptoms compared with a single-session brief intervention . Further work should focus on the efficacy and role of brief interventions , and addressing smoking and alcohol misuse in cardiac patients with depression
Conclusions We found that psychological intervention  improved psychological symptoms and reduced cardiac mortality for people with CHD .
However , there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the magnitude of these effects and the specific techniques most likely to benefit people with different presentations of CHD
Background Although psychological interventions are recommended for the management of coronary heart disease ( CHD ) , there remains considerable uncertainty regarding their effectiveness .