Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy of combined anti-anxiety therapy (escitalopram and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) in a randomized controlled trial involving patients with atrial fibrillation and anxiety.

Approach:

• Intervention Groups: Participants were allocated to Drug Therapy, Psychological Intervention (CBT), Combination (Drug + CBT), or Control (routine care).

Key Findings:

• A total of 117 patients completed the follow-up. Significant improvements were observed in QoL domains (RP, GH, VT, SF) in intervention groups compared to control at 6 months (all P < 0.01).
• Significant main effects for psychological intervention (P < 0.001) and drug therapy (P = 0.011) confirmed by factorial analysis.
• Combination group had a significantly lower incidence of MACE at 6 months compared to control (36.67% vs. 70.00%, P = 0.003).

Interpretation:

Combined anti-anxiety pharmacotherapy and psychological therapy may improve QoL and reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with AF and anxiety.

Limitations:

• The single-center nature of the study may limit the generalizability of the findings.
• The short follow-up duration may not capture long-term effects of the interventions.

Conclusion:

The study suggests that integrated anti-anxiety treatment could enhance patient outcomes in those with atrial fibrillation and anxiety.