The Effect of Cognitive- Behavioral Group Therapy on Depression and anxiety in Patients with myocardial infarction

Many studies have shown that one of the most common complications of people suffering myocardial infarction (MI) is anxiety and depression. Psychological problem such as depression and anxiety about probable future cardiac attack endangers imperlis and mental health of patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on anxiety and depression in patients with myocardial infarction in Birjand. In this semi-experimental study، we selected 24 patients with acute myocardial infarction (12 patients with anxiety and12 patients with depression). Patients were treated by cognitive-behavioral therapy in 12 sessions of 1. 5 hours. Beck depression test (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Scale to (BAI) were used. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 15 using statistical tests of Student-t test at the significant level of P<0. 05. After treatment، depression in the patients decreased from 19. 08±5. 63 to 7. 66±3. 62، P<0. 001 and anxiety decreased from 30±11. 33 to 12. 16±7. 62، which were statistically significant Cognitive-behavioral group therapy plays a positive role in decreasing depression and anxiety in patients with myocardial infarction. It is recommended that this type of psychological therapy to be considered for patients with myocardial infarction