Ju Ryoung Moon1, June Huh2, Jinyoung Song3, I-Seok Kang3, Seung Woo Park4, Sung-A Chang4, Ji-Hyuk Yang5, Tae-Gook Jun5, Jong-Sook Han6. 1. Department of Nursing, Adult Congenital Heart Clinic, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. 2. Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Adult Congenital Heart Clinic, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: herz.huh@gmail.com. 3. Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Adult Congenital Heart Clinic, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 4. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Adult Congenital Heart Clinic, Heart Vascular and Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 5. Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Adult Congenital Heart Clinic, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 6. Red College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University (retired), Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Over 30% of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) experience depression. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) in reducing depressive symptoms in adults with CHD. METHODS: Forty-two adults with CHD were recruited from an outpatient clinic and randomized to a study group (n = 21), which comprised 8-weekly group-based counseling sessions, or a control group (n = 21), which received usual care. REBT effectiveness was examined using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Shorten General Attitude and Belief Scale, and salivary cortisol levels before therapy, after the last session, and at follow-up 4 weeks later. RESULTS: Average participant ages were 30.1 ± 7.58 and 33.3 ± 7.1 years in study and control groups, respectively; 52.4% of participants in each group were female. After REBT, depression (p < 0.001), irrational beliefs (p < 0.001), and salivary cortisol levels (p = 0.006) were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group. Effects of REBT in the study group remained consistent at the 4-week follow-up. CONCLUSION: REBT may be effective in reducing depression in adults with CHD.
BACKGROUND: Over 30% of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) experience depression. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) in reducing depressive symptoms in adults with CHD. METHODS: Forty-two adults with CHD were recruited from an outpatient clinic and randomized to a study group (n = 21), which comprised 8-weekly group-based counseling sessions, or a control group (n = 21), which received usual care. REBT effectiveness was examined using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Shorten General Attitude and Belief Scale, and salivary cortisol levels before therapy, after the last session, and at follow-up 4 weeks later. RESULTS: Average participant ages were 30.1 ± 7.58 and 33.3 ± 7.1 years in study and control groups, respectively; 52.4% of participants in each group were female. After REBT, depression (p < 0.001), irrational beliefs (p < 0.001), and salivary cortisol levels (p = 0.006) were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group. Effects of REBT in the study group remained consistent at the 4-week follow-up. CONCLUSION: REBT may be effective in reducing depression in adults with CHD.