MedlinePlus: Psychotherapy Can Ease Post-Surgical Depression

Two techniques worked for patients after heart bypass procedures, study finds

HealthDay
By Robert Preidt
Monday, April 6, 2009

MONDAY, April 6 (HealthDay News) -- Two non-drug treatments -- cognitive behavior therapy and supportive stress management -- seem to be more effective than usual care for treating depression in patients who've had coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, a new study finds.

About 20 percent of bypass patients suffer major depression and another 20 percent experience milder forms of depression, according to background information in the study by Kenneth E. Freedland, of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and colleagues.

The study included 123 patients who had major or minor depression one year after bypass. They were randomly selected to receive either usual care (40 patients) as determined by a physician, 12 weeks of cognitive behavior therapy (41 patients), or 12 weeks of supportive stress management (42 patients).

In cognitive behavioral therapy, a psychologist or social worker helped patients identify problems and develop cognitive techniques for overcoming them. In supportive stress management, patients were counseled about how to improve their ability to cope with stressful life events.....

MedlinePlus: Psychotherapy Can Ease Post-Surgical Depression