Internet-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety among Patients with a Recent Myocardial Infarction : The U-CARE Heart Randomized Trial

• Background: Symptoms of depression and anxiety are common after a myocardial infarction (MI). Internet-based cognitivebehavioral therapy (iCBT) has shown good results in other patient groups.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an iCBT treatment to reduce self-reported symptoms ofdepression and anxiety among patients with a recent MI.Methods: In total, 3928 patients were screened for eligibility in 25 Swedish hospitals. Of these, 239 patients (33.5%, 80/239women, mean age 60 years) with a recent MI and symptoms of depression or anxiety were randomly allocated to a therapist-guided,14-week iCBT treatment (n=117), or treatment as usual (TAU; n=122). The iCBT treatment was designed for post-MI patients.The primary outcome was the total score of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) 14 weeks post baseline, assessedover the internet. Treatment effect was evaluated according to the intention-to-treat principle, with multiple imputations. For themain analysis, a pooled treatment effect was estimated, controlling for age, sex, and baseline HADS.Results: There was a reduction in HADS scores over time in the total study sample (mean delta=−5.1, P<.001) but no differencebetween the study groups at follow-up (beta=−0.47, 95% CI −1.95 to 1.00, P=.53). Treatment adherence was low. A total of46.2% (54/117) of the iCBT group did not complete the introductory module.Conclusions: iCBT treatment for an MI population did not result in lower levels of symptoms of depression or anxiety comparedwith TAU. Low treatment adherence might have influenced the result.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01504191; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01504191 (Archived at Webciteat http://www.webcitation.org/6xWWSEQ22)

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Medical Science

Medicinsk vetenskap

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)