Depression and cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Depressive disorders and depressive symptoms are often underestimated and not treated in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Depression, as an independent risk factor, increases vulnerability of the patients towards cardiovascular diseases and also increases the mortality of patients with existing cardiovascular disease. It is expected that increased activity of hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis, dysfunction of the autonomous neural system, hyperactivity of sympathomedullary system and increased activity of thrombocytes are among the key patophysiological mechanisms involved in the development of complications. The treatment of depression 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 development of serious complications.