Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Clinical Trial
Official title:
Group Psychotherapy Among Congestive Heart Failure Patients as a Way to Reduce Psychological Distress and Increase Psycho-social Adjustment
This study will examine the efficacy of group therapy utilizing the Existential Approach in heart failure patients when compared to a control group of patients who are waiting for the same group treatment. This comparison will be achieved by measuring changes in the variables studied namely, the levels of psychological distress and levels of psycho-social adjustment.
Among all medical conditions, patients with heart failure report significantly poorer
quality of life than do the other patients (1). The existing literature describes a wide
range of negative emotions common among patients with heart failure; these include
everything from depression, anxiety, submission and helplessness to a profound sense of
"discord and brokenness." The prevalence of depression, ranging from 11% to 25% among heart
disease outpatients and 35% to 70% among those who are hospitalized (2). By comparison, the
overall percentage of the population suffering from depression is about 6.6%. Psychological
depression appears to be an important predictor of rehospitalization among persons who have
been admitted with coronary artery disease (3). In addition, depression in patients with
heart failure was found to be associated with the course of the disease and its prognosis.
For example, it was found that in patients with heart failure, a diagnosis of Major
Depression was correlated with a higher rate of mortality (4), and depressive symptoms
predicted short-term worsening of heart failure symptoms (5). The reduction in quality of
life that was also found to be common in patients with heart failure is also a prognostic
factor for repeated hospitalizations and death (6).
The high prevalence of distress among the population of patients with heart failure, along
with the broad impact on the patient's quality of life, requires attention to detail and the
implementation of interventions aimed at reducing levels of distress. Very few studies
describe interventions aimed at alleviating distress in patients with heart failure.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is reported to improve both the functional and emotional levels
of these patients, resulting in the relief of their symptoms of depression. Using
relaxation, Bio-Feedback devices have also achieved a reduction in depression of heart
failure patients. Research testing the efficacy of psychological treatment using the
interpersonal approach now is being performed; it is funded by the U.S. NIMH and is, at
present, in the initial recruitment stages (National Institute of Mental Health, 2010).
Studies examining the beneficial effects of group therapy are few in number and most of them
utilize a Cognitive Behavioral approach. This therapeutic orientation has been found to be
effective when the disease is moderate or the prognosis is favorable. However, outcomes tend
to differ greatly when it comes to patients in advanced stages of the condition. These
patients are also confronted with fundamental aspects of their own mortality. A large body
of literature about psychological interventions for these patients exists. Many of these
interventions are based on an Existential Approach aimed at facilitating responses to the
unique distress of patients in an advanced stage of the disease (7).
This study examines the contribution of a group therapy program based on the Existential
Approach aimed at reducing distress in patients with heart failure.
;
Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Prospective
Status | Clinical Trial | Phase | |
---|---|---|---|
Terminated |
NCT01831713 -
Pulmonary Blood Flow Measurements in CHF Patients
|
N/A | |
Withdrawn |
NCT01744210 -
Evaluation of Blood Flow Patterns in Lung Blood Vessels Using Ultrasound Technique in Patients With Congestive Heart Failure
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT00211874 -
Improving Heart Failure Care in Minority Communities
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT01960907 -
Clinical Trials for Elderly Patients With Multiple Disease
|
N/A | |
Terminated |
NCT00406575 -
Recombinant Human Relaxin for the Treatment of Decompensated CHF
|
Phase 2 | |
Completed |
NCT00309764 -
CHF Management Using Telemedicine
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT02034045 -
Expanding Paramedicine in the Community
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT01855022 -
A Trial to Reduce Readmissions Using Motivational Interviewing and Interactive Voice Response
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT02983812 -
Developing Enhanced Prediction Models
|
||
Completed |
NCT01044290 -
Outlook Quality of Life Intervention Study
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT00734045 -
Prospective Evaluation of the StatusFirstâ„¢ CHF NT-proBNP Device in Human Whole Blood and Plasma Samples
|
N/A | |
Approved for marketing |
NCT00528320 -
Clinical Evaluation of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) Using the Ovatio CRT Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) System
|
N/A |