- About half of all people with heart failure in the United States also have depression.
- Researchers report that behavioral activation therapy as well as antidepressants can help improve depressive symptoms.
- Behavioral activation therapy is an evidence-based treatment for depression that focuses on the patient’s engagement in enjoyable activities.
Behavioral activation therapy is as effective as antidepressants for treating depression in people with heart failure, according to a new
The researchers noted that in the United States, there are approximately
The researchers said people with both heart failure and depression have lower cardiac function, more emergency room visits, more hospital admissions, higher caregiver burden, and a lower quality of life compared to people with heart failure without depression.
The researchers, who were from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, followed 416 people for one year to determine if there was a difference in outcome when either behavioral activation therapy or antidepressants were used to treat depression in people with heart failure.
Half of the study subjects received antidepressants and half participated in behavioral activation therapy. There were no statistical differences in demographic characteristics between the two groups.
Participants receiving behavioral activation therapy were assigned to meet with a social worker trained to provide this type of therapy.
Those receiving antidepressants were assigned to a registered nurse as a care manager to provide medications.
Both groups received a 50-minute introductory session with their assigned professional and then weekly sessions for 12 weeks.
During this initial 12-week period, the behavioral therapy group continued to have 50-minute sessions while the medication group…
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