Behavioral Activation Delivered Via Home-based Telehealth to Improve Functioning in Cardiovascular Disease Patients Recently Discharged From Inpatient Care

Behavioral Activation for depression delivered via home-based telehealth (BA-HT) will be implemented over 12, weekly 50-minute sessions via VA approved telehealth software.

Best practices standard care delivery for post-CVD hospitalization as regularly implemented at the RHJ VAMC. Standard care may include all or some of the following: post-operative follow up, referral to VA primary care clinic at 1 month post-procedure, primary care visit with VA mandated assessments of pain and depression with referral for these conditions, referral to facility-based or home-based cardiac rehabilitation program as appropriate. All participants in this condition will be referred to mental health care. In addition, these participants will receive a weekly telephone call from project staff during which time supportive questioning about patient progress and general mood and recovery.