(dailyRx News) When someone close to you is diagnosed with heart
failure, they may become depressed and have trouble dealing with
stress. But being supportive could lessen their depression and
may even improve their health. Depression is not good for
patients with heart failure. It may lead to more
hospitalizations and even death. Having to deal with heart
failure may be what causes the depression. Feeling isolated and
lacking support may worsen depression. A recent study suggested
that improving the social support of heart failure patients may
reduce their psychological distress. Reducing depression might
hopefully improve patients' health outcomes. Erika Friedmann,
PhD, of the School of Nursing at University of Maryland, and
colleagues led the study to look at psychological stress and
social support in heart failure patients. The study included 108
patients. These patients were part of another study that
examined a certain treatment for heart failure. The first group
had an implantable cardioverter defibril