Comparison of Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Depression in Patients with Myocardial Infarction

Aims: Depression is a common psychiatric disorder after myocardial infarction. So it is necessary to find the appropriate intervention to reduce depression. This study aimed at comparing the effect of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on depression in patients with myocardial infarction. Materials Methods: In this clinical trial, 90 eligible patients with myocardial infarction in Imam Sajjad Hospital, Yasuj, Iran were selected by convenience sampling method. Patients were randomly divided to 2 intervention groups and 1 control group by block randomization (n=30). The EMDR group received the protocol in 8 sessions twice a week for 45 to 90 minutes. The other intervention group received CBT in 10 sessions for 90 minutes twice weekly. The third group did not receive any intervention. Their depression was measured in pre- and post-interventions by Beck Depression questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS 20 software, using descriptive statistics, Fisher’s exact test, Chi-square test, paired t test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey’s post hoc test. Findings: There was a significant difference in the mean difference (-8.06) of depression scores between intervention groups of EMDR and CBT (p 0.001). EMDR showed a greater reduction in the mean depression values in comparison with the CBT. A significant difference was observed in the mean score depression before and after intervention in both CBT and EMDR groups (p 0.001). Conclusion: Both EMDR and cognitive behavioral therapy methods reduce depression of patients with myocardial infarction patients, but EMDR is more effective.