[ comparison of behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapeutic methods on depression in cardiac rehabilitated patients]

In addition to medical care, psychological support is needed to treat depression in rehabilitated cardiac patients. In this study we have compared the effectiveness of two different methods i.e. behavior-intervention and cognitive management in decreasing intensity of depression in rehabilitated cardiac patients. All cardiac patients who had undergone surgery Coronary Artery Bypass Graft [CABG] during 2005-2006 in Khatam-al--Anbia general hospital of Zahedan were included in the study. Sixty seven patients fulfilling the criteria for inclusion were divided randomly into three groups, each comprising of 15 patients, two groups as experimental and one group as control. We used dual therapeutic methods of behavioral management and cognitive management in the two experimental groups, no intervention was done in the control group and multi group dependent variables were defined as the degree of depression in rehabilitated cardiac patients which was assessed by scale of light depression. Beck depression test was utilized for data collection for pre and post-tests; unilateral variance analysis [ANOVA] was used for data analysis. The average score of depression in both test groups showed remarkable difference before and after intervention, whilst subjects in the control groups did not show any intervention. Cognitive method proved more efficient in lessening the intensity of depression. We can apply psychotherapeutic intervening procedures in order to enhance cure and improve to deal with psychological issues in such patients

[Comparison between therapeutic effects of doxepine and hydroxyzine on resistant pruritic lesions due to sulfur mustard]

Chronic pruritus is one of the major complaints in chemically-injured patients. It may cause many psychological problems and consequently, decrease the patient's quality of life. The aim of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of Doxepin and Hydroxyzine in treatment of chronic pruritus due to Sulfur Mustard. This randomized, double-blind clinical trial was carried out in Baqiyatallah hospital on 50 chemically-injured patients for a period of 4 weeks. Patients randomly divided into 2 groups, first group [mean age of 42.3 +/- 5.4 years old] received Doxepin capsules [10 mg/day] and the second group [mean age of 41.1 +/- 6.2 years old] received Hydroxyzine capsules [25 mg/day]. Pruritus score was measured by a standard questionnaire and Visual Analogue Scale [VAS]. The mean before and after-treatment puritus scores of Hydroxyzine, were 34.6 +/- 3.4 and 25.9 +/- 3.1, respectively [P<0.001] and those of Doxepin were 33.8 +/- 4.4 and 24.5 +/- 4.1, respectively [P<0.001]. Both drugs decreased pruritus, similarly [P = 0.245]. 18 patients in the hydroxyzine-received group and 11 patients in the Doxepin-received group were complaining from sedation as a side-effect [P=0.035]. Both drugs are of significant effectiveness in decreasing pruritus. However, considering its fewer side effects, Doxepin seems to be more useful in these conditions