Depression and Cardiovascular Disease

Overview

Depressive disorders and depressive symptoms are often underestimated and not treated inpatients with cardiovascular diseases. Depression, as an independent risk factor, increasesvulnerability of the patients towards cardiovascular diseases and also increases the mortalityof patients with existing cardiovascular disease. It is expected that increased activity ofhypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis, dysfunction of the autonomous neural system, hyperactivityof sympathomedullary system and increased activity of thrombocytes are among the keypatophysiological mechanisms involved in the development of complications. The treatment ofdepression and depressive symptoms of patients with cardiovascular disease is desirable,because it increases the quality of the patient’s life and also decreases the risk of developmentof serious complications.

Key words:
depression - cardiovascular diseases - treatment.