Effectiveness of Group Life Skills Training on Decreasing Anxiety and Depression among Heart Patients, after Bypass Surgery

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of group life skills training (anger management, assertiveness and relaxation) on decreasing of anxiety and depression among heart patients, after coronary artery bypass surgery. In this experimental design, 40 coronary heart patients aged 35-65 years, having bypass for the first time, were selected randomly and assigned to two experiment and control groups. The instruments for data gathering in this study were “Beck Anxiety Inventory” and “Beck Depression Inventory”, which were completed by the subjects both before and after life skills training. Group life skills training significantly decreased the symptoms of depression and anxiety in the patients in the experimental group (p<0.001). This change was not observed in the experimental group. There was no significant difference between males and females in the effectiveness of group life skills training. Group life skills training is effective in decreasing anxiety and depression in coronary patients after coronary bypass surgery.