Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression in People With Heart Failure

Participants will receive a combined intervention of interpersonal and behavioral psychotherapy designed for people with heart failure. Participants will attend 12 sessions, 9 of which will be 30-minute to 1-hour sessions over the phone. The remaining 3 will be in-home visits, lasting 1 to 2 hours. The psychotherapy sessions will allow participants to discuss how they are coping with their illness and loss of functioning. They will also aim to help participants with heart failure to develop new recreational activities in keeping with their new level of functioning.

The AC group will not receive therapy. Instead, a clinician will ask them questions about their depression and heart failure. Participants will attend 12 sessions, 9 of which will be 30-minute to 1-hour sessions over the phone. The remaining 3 will be in-home visits, lasting 1 to 2 hours.