Background Patients with heart failure (HF) experience depressive symptoms which contribute to poorer outcomes. We tested the effects of a brief cognitive therapy intervention on depressive symptoms, negative thinking, health-related quality of life, and cardiac event-free survival. Methods and Results Hospitalized patients with depressive symptoms (N=41, 66±11 yrs, 45% female, 81% NYHA Class III/IV) were randomly assigned to control group or a brief, nurse-delivered cognitive therapy intervention, delivered during hospitalization and followed by a one week booster phone call. Depressive symptoms, negative thinking and health-related quality of life were measured at one week and three months. Cardiac event-free survival was assessed at three months. Mixed models repeated measures ANOVA, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox regression were used for data analysis. Results There were significant improvements in depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in both groups but no interactions between group and time. The control group had shorter three-month cardiac event-free survival (40% vs 80%, p<.05) and a 3.5 greater hazard of experiencing a cardiac event (p=.04) than the intervention group. Conclusion Nurses can deliver a brief intervention to hospitalized patients with HF that may improve short-term event-free survival. Future research is needed to verify these results with a larger sample size.

Researchers and clinicians need to consider patients' perceptions as they generate and evaluate interventions to increase adherence to a low sodium diet.

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Background Patients with heart failure often experience depressive symptoms that affect health-related quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. Researchers have not described the experience of patients with heart failure living with depressive symptoms. Understanding this experience will help in developing interventions to decrease depressive symptoms.Objective To describe the experience of patients with heart failure living with depressive symptoms.Methods This study was conducted by using a qualitative descriptive design. The sample consisted of 10 outpatients (50% female, mean age 63 [SD, 13] years, 70% New York Heart Association class III or IV) with heart failure who were able to describe depressive symptoms. Data were collected via taped, individual, 30- to 60-minute interviews. ATLAS ti (version 5) was used for content analysis.Results Participants described emotional and somatic symptoms of depression. Negative thinking was present in all participants and reinforced their depressed mood. The participants experienced multiple stressors that worsened depressive symptoms. The overarching strategy for managing depressive symptoms was “taking my mind off of it.” Patients managed depressive symptoms by engaging in activities such as exercise and reading, and by using positive thinking, spirituality, and social support.Conclusions Patients with heart failure experience symptoms of depression that are similar to those experienced by the general population. Clinicians should assess patients with heart failure for stressors that worsen depressive symptoms. Strategies that researchers and clinicians can use to reduce depressive symptoms in patients with heart failure include engaging patients in activities, positive thinking, and spirituality. Helping patients find enhanced social support may also be important.