Depression and Self-care in Heart Failure

Comorbid depression is common in heart failure, but little is known about how to treat it.
This randomized, controlled, efficacy trial will compare cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to
usual care (UC) for depression in heart failure. CBT will be integrated with an
intervention to improve heart failure self-care, because depression and inadequate self-care
are thought to be interrelated problems. It will also be integrated with clinical attention
to primary caregiver stress. Basic heart failure education will be provided to all
participants.

Inclusion Criteria:

- New York Heart Association Class I, II, or III Heart Failure (Clinically diagnosed at
least 3 months ago)

- Meets the DSM-IV criteria for a current major depressive episode, or for current
minor depression with a past history of at least one major depressive episode.

- PHQ-9 score of 10 or greater plus 2 or 3 on question 1 or 2 over the last 2 weeks
including today

Exclusion Criteria:

- Less than 30 years old

- Current ETOH / drug abuse

- Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorder

- Communication barrier

- Dementia

- Currently in competing research protocol

- High risk for suicide

- Insurmountable logistical barriers to laboratory assessment visits

- Major mobility-limiting physical disability

- Poor 1 year prognosis not r/t heart failure

- Hospitalized for heart failure or acute coronary syndrome in last month

- Initiated antidepressant therapy in the past 4 weeks

- Current non-study psychotherapy for depression or other psychiatric problem