Capsule Commentary on Cully et al., Delivery of Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Medically Ill Patients in Primary Care: a Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial

Excerpt

This hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial by Cully et al. tested the impact of brief cognitive behavioral therapy (bCBT), delivered by mental health providers in primary care, on depression, anxiety, and quality of life for veterans with heart failure and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).1 An average of 3.9 weekly bCBT sessions were conducted by 19 mental health providers with 180 patients. Compared to 122 control group patients, the intervention group had improved symptoms of depression and anxiety at 4 months (50% had a successful treatment response vs. 32.8% of control group), with effects maintained at 8 and 12 months. The number needed to treat at 4 months for anxiety was 6.3 and for depression was 6.1. Health-related quality of life (QoL) improved for bCBT participants with COPD (not for those with heart failure), but this was not maintained at 12 months. …