A study has found that talk therapy for depression can help reduce the risks of heart attacks and strokes later in life. Previous research has shown that those with a mental health condition are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Scientists now believe that "successful treatment of depression through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may not only benefit the brain but also improve heart health."
In the new study, researchers from University College London analyzed data from 636,955 people over the age of 45 who received treatment through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service in England between 2012 and 2020. This free service offers cognitive behavioral therapy, counseling, and guided self-help, with sessions provided either face-to-face individually or in groups online.
The researchers then linked IAPT outcomes (depression scores) with patients' health records to look for new cases of cardiovascular events. They found that "people whose depression symptoms improved after psychological treatment were less likely to develop cardiovascular disease on average over three years of follow-up, compared to those who did not."
The study also indicates that "improvement from depression was associated with a 12% reduction in cardiovascular diseases, with similar findings for coronary heart disease, stroke, and mortality."
Lead author Celine Al-Bawari stated, "This study is the first to demonstrate a link between psychological treatment outcomes and the future risks of cardiovascular disease. The results are important as they suggest that the benefits of psychological therapy may extend beyond mental health to long-term physical health outcomes."
