The effect of cardiac rehabilitation on anxiety and depression in patients undergoing cardiac bypass graft surgery in Iran.
BACKGROUND
Many patients experience anxiety and depression after cardiac bypass surgery.The aim of this study was to examine the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on anxiety and depression in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in southern Iran.


METHODS
For this randomized controlled trial, 80 patients who met the inclusion criteria were recruited and randomly assigned to case and control groups. Anxiety was measured with the Spielberger Anxiety Scale and depression was measured using Beck's Depression Inventory at three points in time: on discharge from the hospital, immediately after the intervention, and 2 months after cardiac rehabilitation. After measuring anxiety and depression in both groups upon discharge, the experimental group participated in 8 cardiac rehabilitation sessions over a 4-week period. The control group received only the routine follow-up care.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant difference in depression scores between groups at all three time-points (Mean score from 19.6 to 10 in the intervention group and from 19.5 to 14 in the control group, P = 0.0014). However, no significant difference was seen in anxiety scores between the groups (Mean score from 37 to 28 in the intervention group and from 38 to 32 in the control group, P = 0.079).


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac rehabilitation was effective in reducing depression 2 months after surgery in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.


BACKGROUND
IRCTN201203262812N8.
Mental Health Nursing Department, Community Based Nursing & Midwifery Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. fsharif@sums.ac.ir
Farkhondeh
F
Sharif
Alireza
A
Shoul
Mansour
M
Janati
Javad
J
Kojuri
Najaf
N
Zare
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000523:psychology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome