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.

Cognitive behavioral therapy in depressed cardiac surgery patients: role of ejection fraction.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of ejection fraction (EF) and depressive symptoms in cardiac surgery patients assigned to nurse-guided cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or usual care (UC).

Methods: Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Seventy-seven patients (31% women; mean [SD] age, 63.

Early cognitive behavioral therapy for depression after cardiac surgery.

Background: Despite high rates of postcardiac surgery depression, studies of depression treatment in this population have been limited.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate early cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in a home environment in patients recovering from cardiac surgery.

Methods: : From July 2006 through October 2009, we conducted a randomized controlled trial and enrolled 808 patients who were screened for depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in the hospital and 1 month later.