Brief cognitive-behavioral therapy significantly reduced anxiety (median score 11 to 6; p<0.001) and depressive symptoms (10 to 5; p<0.001) in patients with resistant arterial hypertension.
Observational (n=20)
No
Does brief cognitive-behavioral therapy improve anxiety and depressive symptoms in adults with resistant arterial hypertension?
A brief cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention is feasible and associated with reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with resistant arterial hypertension.
p-value: p=<0.001
Background: Resistant arterial hypertension (RAH) is a heterogeneous cardiovascular condition influenced by biological, behavioral, psychosocial, and neuroendocrine mechanisms. Within emerging precision medicine frameworks, psychobehavioral assessment may contribute to a more individualized characterization of patients with RAH and help identify modifiable dimensions associated with therapeutic resistance. This study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a brief psychobehavioral intervention in patients with RAH. Methods: This feasibility-oriented exploratory pre–post pilot study included 20 adults with RAH recruited from a tertiary outpatient clinic specialized in resistant hypertension. Participants underwent psychobehavioral assessment using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Individuals presenting clinically significant anxiety and/or depressive symptoms (scores ≥ 8) received an individualized semi-structured brief cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention consisting of 8–9 weekly sessions. Feasibility indicators included intervention adherence, completion of the protocol, operational flexibility, and absence of symptom worsening. Pre- and post-intervention emotional symptoms were compared using nonparametric analyses. Results: High baseline emotional burden was observed, with 90% of participants presenting anxiety symptoms and 60% depressive symptoms. Following the intervention, reductions in anxiety median 11 (IQR 8–13) vs. 6 (4–8); p < 0.001 and depressive symptoms 10 (8–11) vs. 5 (3–8); p < 0.001 were identified. No worsening of symptoms occurred. The intervention demonstrated satisfactory feasibility and acceptability, including flexibility for remote and in-person delivery. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that psychobehavioral phenotyping combined with individualized brief CBT may represent a feasible complementary strategy within precision-oriented cardiovascular care for resistant hypertension. Although causal inference cannot be established due to the pilot design and absence of a control group, the findings support further investigation of psychobehavioral dimensions as potentially relevant components of personalized hypertension management.
Brito et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Resistant arterial hypertension (n=20). Brief cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was evaluated on Feasibility indicators and pre- and post-intervention emotional symptoms (anxiety and depression) (p=<0.001). Brief cognitive-behavioral therapy significantly reduced anxiety (median score 11 to 6; p<0.001) and depressive symptoms (10 to 5; p<0.001) in patients with resistant arterial hypertension.