Increases in depression after cholesterol-lowering drug treatment

To investigate the possibility that increases in depressive symptoms might occur in patients who have undergone cholesterol-lowering interventions, the authors administered the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale before and after cholesterol lowering to 6 men who were referred to a lipid clinic. All of the patients' cholesterol levels were reduced after the 6-week intervention, and 4 of the patients' depression scores increased; scores of 2 of the 4 met the criteria for mild clinical depression. Further study of possible links among low cholesterol, depressive symptoms, and serotonergic activity is needed.