[Depression in chronic heart failure: complication, risk factor or autonomous disease?]

A major depressive episode is diagnosed based on several well-defined criteria as the presence of depressed mood and loss of interest. According to a large meta-analysis the prevalence of major depression in patients with chronic heart failure is more than 20%. Etiological factors include individual (genetic) disposition and social environment as well as psychosocial stress and biological risk factors related to the chronic cardiac illness. As in coronary artery disease, mortality rates are increased in patients suffering from heart failure and comorbid depression. Possible mechanisms mediating this relationship include both biological (e.g. severity of chronic heart failure, autonomic and immunological dysregulation, multiple comorbidities) and behavioral factors (health behavior, compliance with pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy). Shared pathophysiological mechanisms as well as a common genetic disposition are also discussed. Simple screening instruments and effective treatment options (psychotherapy, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) are available. However, at present evidence is lacking that beyond improvement of depression these strategies impact favorably on morbidity and mortality.