The effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on depression and anxiety in patients with myocardial infarction

Background: Anxiety and depression are both predisposing and consequent factor in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Thus relief of anxiety and depression has an important role in reducing possibility of further MI and also quality of life promotion. Aim: The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on the anxiety and depression in patients with MI. Methods: In this experimental study 30 patients, hospitalized in the CCU ward were randomly allocated into control (15) and experimental group (15). Subjects in experimental group underwent ten sessions of CBT interventions individually while the control group did not received any intervention. SCL-90 questionnaire which measures both depression and anxiety was completed for both groups in Pre-and post-intervention phases. Data analyzed using statistical tests of Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and independent T-Test and paired T-Test. Results: The mean age of participants was 55.69 ± 6.73 years of which 60% were women. The mean scores of depression and anxiety were not significantly different between two groups before treatment (p> 0.05). But t-test showed that mean depression score after intervention in the control group (1.2 ± 0.38) was significantly higher than the treatment group (0.7 ± 0.33). Similarly, the mean anxiety score in the control group (1.09 ± 0.27) was significantly higher than the experimental group (0.63 ±0.27). The subjects who received CBT had fewer depression and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: Individual CBT intervention was effective in decreasing the anxiety and depression of MI patients.