Evaluation of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy on depression,, anxiety and stress in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting: a randomized clinical trial

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy on depression, anxiety and stress in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test design with control group.The statistical population of the study consisted of all patients of Shahid Madani Hospital in Tabriz who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery between August 6, 2019 to August 5, 2020, from which 30 patients were selected by purposive sampling method and were assigned into two groups: experimental (15 couples) and control (15 couples).Couples in the experimental group were exposed to cognitive-behavioral couple therapy intervention for 10 sessions once a week for 90 minute each time; While the control group couples did not receive this intervention.The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used to collect data. Subjects of both groups answered the research questionnaire in the pre-test and post-test stages.Analysis of covariance (Ancova) was used for statistical analysis of data using SPSS software.Findings showed that cognitive-behavioral couple therapy improves the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (P = 0.001).Cognitive-behavioral Couple Therapy can be effective in improving couples' relationships and increasing their emotional support and treating patients' psychological disorders by making changes in couples' cognitions and behaviors using various techniques and teaching effective skills.