Treating depression after bypass surgery

About one in every five patients suffers a major bout of depression following heart bypass surgery and at least that many again develop milder forms of depression. Researchers from the University of St Louis divided 123 depressed bypass patients into three groups. A third received cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), a third received supportive stress management and a third received 'usual care.' Within each group about half the participants were taking antidepressants. After three months 71% of the people in the CBT group and 57% in the supportive stress management group saw their depression symptoms lift compared to just 33% in the 'usual care' group; figures which remained about the same after nine months. Whether or not the participants were taking antidepressants seemed to have little effect on what happened to their depression.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKTRE53565H20090406?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews