Changes in depression in the immediate postdischarge phase in a cardiac rehabilitation population assessed by the cardiac depression scale

■ INTRODUCTION: Depression is increasingly a focus of attention in the management of heart disease. Clinicians in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are well placed to assess and facilitate management of symptoms of depression, yet the timing and interpretation of measurements remain unclear. ■ METHODS: We administered the Hare-Davis Cardiac Depression Scale (CDS) in a usual care, outpatient CR program in a metropolitan setting. As part of routine assessment and monitoring of outcomes in a 6-week outpatient CR program, we administered the CDS at entry, at completion of the 6-week program, and at 12 months. ■ RESULTS: Data were available on 151 patients for the 3 measurement points. At baseline, the mean CDS score was 76.07 (±22.38), which dropped at 6 weeks to 64.85 (±21.69) but increased slightly at 12 months to 69.79 (±24.36). The changes in these scores were statistically significant for all measurement points (P < .03). The trend of change for the CDS was reflected in the subscale scores, which dropped at 6 weeks but increased slightly at 12 months. ■ DISCUSSION: Findings demonstrate a positive impact of CR on CDS scores at 6 weeks and 12 months, although there was a trend for increased scores at 1 year. This observation requires further investigation and underscores the importance of longitudinal studies.