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Depression, the bête noire of cardiology?

Molecular Psychiatry volume 7, page 17 (2002)Cite this article

Major depression is ranked fourth among the 10 leading causes of the global burden of disease and, if epidemiological projections are correct, by 2020 it will reach second place.1 Aside from diminished daily functional capacity and being more likely to commit suicide, patients with endogenous depression are at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease.2,3,4,5 This elevated risk is independent of conventional risk factors such as smoking, obesity, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes and hypertension.6,7 Also conclusively demonstrated is the adverse effect of depression in patients following myocardial infarction, which materially increases mortality.8,9,10

The mechanism of increased cardiac risk attributable to depressive illness is at present uncertain, but activation of the sympathetic nervous system, exaggerated platelet reactivity and/or enhanced inflammatory-mediated atherogenesis are likely to be of prime importance.11,12,13,14,15

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  1. Baker Medical Research Institute, PO Box 6492, St Kilda Road Central, Melbourne, 8008, Victoria, Australia

    G Lambert

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  1. G Lambert
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Correspondence to G Lambert.

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Lambert, G. Depression, the bête noire of cardiology?. Mol Psychiatry 7, 17 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4000991

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