Psychological Intervention to Anxiety and Depression in Geriatric Patients with Chronic Heart Failure / 中国心理卫生杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the incidence of anxiety and depression and explore the effects of psycho- logical intervention on anxiety and depression in geriatric patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).Methods:A to- tal of 190 geriatric inpatients were recruited.They were assessed with the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and the self- rating depression scale (SDS) before the psychological intervention.All subjects were divided into two groups (101 in case group and 89 in control group) randomly.The case group received relaxation therapy and basic psychological care lasting four weeks,while the control group only received basic psychological care.Relaxation therapies,including re- laxation training and music therapy,were offered to patients in case group one hour per day for four weeks.Then the changes of SAS score,SDS score,and length of hospital stay of patients in two groups after psychological intervention were observed.The re-hospitalization rate due to CHF after discharge was assessed at 6-month follow-up.Results:The SAS score,SDS score,age,gender,educational level,economic status,caregiver status,cardiac function-graded, free medical service,self-care ability,and course of CHF were balanced between two groups before psychological inter- vention.The incidence of depression and anxiety of geriatric patients in our hospital were higher than that of the general population (45.8% vs.5%,52.6% vs.5-10%,respectively).After psychological intervention,the SAS score and SDS score were reduced in both case and control groups;the reduced degree in case group was higher than that in control group,and there was significant difference between the two groups (P