COMPARING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TWO METHODS OF RELAXATION AND INTERPERSONAL COGNITIVE PROBLEM SOLVING ON DECREASING ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN CARDIAC REHABILITATION PATIENTS

Psychiatric disorders especially anxiety and depression often occur in cardiac patients as complication or associated disorders. This study was done to compare the effects of two methods of relaxation and interpersonal cognitive problem solving (ICPS) on decreasing anxiety and depression in cardiac rehabilitation patients.

This experimental study was conducted on 35 cardiac rehabilitation patients who referred to rehabilitation in the Imam Ali Hospital in the Kermanshah city in the Spring of 2010. Except for the two patients who did not qualify for the study, another 33 patients were randomly assigned into two experimental groups and one control group (n = 11 per group). Then, 8 sessions of relaxation or interpersonal cognitive problem solving (ICPS) training was administered to the experimental groups. Cattell Anxiety Scale and Beck Depression Inventory were used as measurement instruments. The data were analyzed using covariance (MANCOVA), test box, and Wilks Lambda post hoc test, and SPPS16.

The results show there is a significant effectiveness of intervention methods on decreasing anxiety and depression in cardiac patients. The methods of intervention were not significantly different in reducing anxiety and depression.

Applying of psychotherapy can decrease anxiety and depression in cardiac rehabilitation patients and causes more curing corporation between them and members of curing staffs and promotion of their morals and their health promotion.