Cognitive behavioral therapy for depression improves pain and perceived control in cardiac surgery patients.

This report analysed 53 participants; the parent trial randomised 81 participants. Participants were included only if they completed pain, sleep and perceived-control measures at baseline and eight weeks. Non-responders were younger, more often female and had a higher BMI than responders. Groups differed at baseline in gender and weight, and analyses controlled for these differences. The sample was small, and the authors said it may have been underpowered to detect effects on sleep. Only participants with major or minor depression were included, so findings may not apply to cardiac surgery patients with milder depressive symptoms. The design did not control for the effect of home visits, which may have contributed to the intervention's impact. The study used only pre- and post-test evaluation at eight weeks. Pain was measured with a single instrument that did not distinguish postoperative pain from other chronic pain. The primary depression outcomes were published separately, so this report focuses on secondary outcomes.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Do not conclude that CBT for depression is a proven treatment for postoperative pain or sleep problems in all cardiac surgery patients. This was a secondary analysis of 53 clinically depressed patients, sleep did not change, and the home visits themselves were not controlled.