title: Randomised controlled trial of group cognitive behaviour therapy versus brief intervention for depression in cardiac patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a six-session group cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) programme results in a greater reduction in depression symptoms than a brief intervention alone in cardiac patients with clinically significant symptoms of depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven community dwelling cardiac patients scoring >13 on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) received a single-session brief intervention. They were then block randomised to either six sessions of group CBT (n = 25) or no further intervention (BI; n = 32). All were re-assessed at 2, 6 and 12 months. Differences between treatment groups in the primary (BDI-II) and secondary [rates of depression; anxiety symptoms, as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A)] outcomes were examined using generalised linear mixed models with a random intercept term for the individual.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvements were seen for the total group from baseline to 12 months on BDI-II and HADS-A scores. However, no differences were found between the CBT and BI conditions on change in BDI-II score, rates of major depressive episode or HADS-A score. Post hoc analysis on the total group found 12-month symptom non-remission was associated with higher baseline BDI-II score (p = 0.03), more visits to health professionals 12 months prior to baseline (p = 0.05) and a greater likelihood of either drinking alcohol over recommended levels or smoking at baseline (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Group CBT of up to six sessions did not result in greater reductions in depression or anxiety symptoms compared with a single-session brief intervention. Further work should focus on the efficacy and role of brief interventions, and addressing smoking and alcohol misuse in cardiac patients with depression.
authors.affiliation: Liaison Psychiatry Department, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia. alyna.turner@newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: Alyna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hambridge
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McElduff
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group