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Depression and cardiovascular disorders

Mary A Whooley1, Jonathan M Wong

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA. mary.whooley@ucsf.edu

Annual Review of Clinical Psychology
|March 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Depression significantly increases cardiovascular disease risk and adverse cardiac events. Early screening and treatment of depression are crucial for managing heart health.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Depression is highly prevalent in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients.
  • Depression acts as a risk factor for developing CVD in healthy individuals.
  • Depression predicts poor outcomes, including myocardial infarction and death, in those with existing CVD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review epidemiological literature on depression and cardiovascular disorders.
  • To discuss the mechanisms underlying the depression-cardiovascular link.
  • To examine current recommendations for screening, diagnosis, and management of depression in cardiac patients.

Main Methods:

  • Review of key epidemiological studies.
  • Analysis of mechanistic research.
  • Examination of clinical trial data on antidepressant therapies.

Main Results:

  • Established link between depression and increased CVD prevalence and risk.
  • Identified poor health behaviors (inactivity, nonadherence, smoking) as key contributors.
  • Evidence suggests antidepressant therapies may improve cardiac outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • American Heart Association recommends routine depression screening for coronary heart disease patients.
  • Further research into new therapeutic strategies for depression in CVD is warranted.
  • Integrated management of depression is essential for cardiovascular patient care.

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