Cognitive behavioral therapy for depression improves pain and perceived control in cardiac surgery patients.

Background: Depression after cardiac surgery (CS) is associated with increased pain and decreased sleep quality. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) aimed at depression is effective in relieving depressive symptoms after cardiac surgery, little is known about its ability to ameliorate other common postoperative problems that affect recovery and quality of life.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of CBT for depression on pain severity, pain interference, sleep, and perceived control in patients recovering from CS.

Persistent depressive symptoms and pain after cardiac surgery.

Objective: Our objectives were to describe trajectories of depressive symptoms and pain at hospital discharge and 6 weeks later and to examine the relationship of persistent depressive symptoms to pain.

Methods: Before and 6 weeks after hospital discharge, 251 patients undergoing cardiac surgery (mean [SD] age = 67.3 [9.