The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Training Versus Conventional Training on Self-care and Depression Severity in Heart Failure Patients with Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Psychological factors including depression and anxiety are the most critical risk
factors in the treatment and prognosis of heart failure which should be addressed in treatment
and care programs. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cognitive-behavioral
training (CBT) on depression severity and self-care ability of patients with heart failure.
Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial that carried out on 80 patients with heart
failure who had been hospitalized in 2018. The participants were divided into the CBT group
(n= 40) and the conventional training (CT) group (n= 40), randomly. Data were collected using
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) version 6.2
before and 8 weeks after the educational interventions. Data were analyzed in SPSS 21 using
paired t-test, independent t-test, chi-square test, and covariance analysis.
Results: The mean score of self-care in the CBT group turned out to be significantly higher than
the CT group after receiving the intervention. Also, the mean depression score of the CBT group
26.95 (5.53) after intervention was significantly lower than the CT group 36.04 (8.45).
Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral intervention, compared with conventional training, had
a greater positive impact on improving self-care and alleviating the severity of depression
symptoms. Therefore, it is recommended that the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy be
integrated into routine educational programs.