Behavioral Activation for Depression After Heart Disease Hospitalization

This study is testing a program called Behavioral Activation delivered via home-based telehealth (BA-HT) to help Veterans who have recently been hospitalized for heart disease (cardiovascular disease or CVD) and are experiencing depression. The goal is to see if BA-HT can improve your ability to participate in social activities and daily life. You would either receive 12 weekly telehealth sessions of BA-HT or standard care after your heart disease hospitalization. The study aims to enroll 132 Veterans who have experienced specific heart-related events like unstable angina or heart attacks. We will measure how well you can participate in social roles and activities, and your physical function, at 13 weeks.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 132 participants. Participants will be assigned to either receive Behavioral Activation delivered via home-based telehealth (BA-HT) or standard care.
What's involved
If you participate, you would receive 12 weekly 50-minute sessions of BA-HT via telehealth software, or standard care. The study will measure your progress at 13 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your ability to participate in social roles and activities, and your physical function, will be measured at 13 weeks after starting the study.

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NCT04877197

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

Recruiting
NAAges 21+InterventionalTreatment
VA Office of Research and Development
~132 participants
Updated 2026-07-27 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:BA-HTStandard Care

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
PROMIS Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities
Measured over 13 weeks
+2 more outcomes measured
Depression
Cardiovascular Diseases
1 sites across 1 states
South Carolina1
  • Ron E. Acierno, PhD MS BA · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Having experienced one of the ICD 10 I20-I25 CVD events:
120 unstable angina
stable angina
121 NSTEMI
STEMI
initial encounter
122 NSTEMI
STEMI
subsequent encounter
124 acute coronary syndrome
125 coronary arteriosclerosis with angina and/or
Valve repair, valve replacement, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI/TAVR), Pacemaker Implantation in the past 6 months, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) in the past 6 months; Left Ventricular Assist Device in the past 6 months; Ablation Therapy; Watchman Implant; and
Discharged from the RHJ VAMC inpatient care facilities
Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder on the basis of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM 5 (First, Williams, Karg, \& Spitzer, 2015)

Exclusion

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
Having a household member who is already enrolled in the study
Active psychosis or significant dementia at screening
Suicidal ideation with clear intent
Current alcohol use disorder rated severe
Concurrent enrollment in another clinical trial for depression
  • PROMIS Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities13 weeks

    This measure of functioning assesses one's perceived ability to perform usual social roles and activities. Items are worded negatively in terms of perceived limitations and are reverse-coded with higher scores represent fewer limitations. Each of the 8 items are scored 1 to 5 and totaled raw scores are used to derive T-scores, scaled to US general population estimates. In addition to PROMIS general validation efforts, evidence for reliability, construct validity, and sensitivity to change with cardiovascular surgery patients was provided by Flynn et al. (2015).

  • PROMIS Satisfaction with Participation in Social Roles13 weeks

    This 8-item measure (items rated 1 to 5, higher scores corresponding to higher satisfaction), assesses satisfaction related to one's ability and performance of work, routine activities, and family activities and is responsive to change over time (Hahn et al., 2016). Thus, this measure complements purely functional assessment of capabilities with assessment of participant's impression of the quality their functioning.

  • PROMIS Physical Function with Mobility Aid13 weeks

    This 11-item measure (high scores correspond to better mobility) is rated 1 to 5 (unable to do to "without any difficulty") and assesses self-report regarding many basic physical aspects of Activities of Daily Living. Both upper and lower extremity functioning is assessed, as well as instrumental activities.