Comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and medication on the quality of life in the patients with essential hypertension

Introduction: Essential hypertension is one of the most important factors on quality of life and third casual of death in the world. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy and drug therapy on improvement of quality of life in the patients with essential hypertension. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was performed in Heart center of Medical Uuniversity of Isfahan (Iran) between April 2007 and April 2008. 40 Patients with essential hypertension were selected randomly and assigned into 2 groups: experimental group that received cognitive behavioral therapy and control group with drug therapy. All of the patients completed the quality of life and a demographic questionnaire before start of interventions as pre test. The post test was completed after the end of intervention and follow up completed after 4 month later. Results: Findings showed that cognitive behavioral therapy was more effective than drug therapy on improvement of quality of life in the patients with essential hypertension in post test and follow up. Conclusion: Cognitive behavioral therapy was effective on improvement of quality of life in the patients with essential hypertension. According to findings of this work, we suggest that team work approach consist of psychologists and heart professional can be useful for treatment of quality of life in the patients with essential hypertension.