Depression and the heart: an unavoidable relationship

pp 411-416

Abstract

An important relationship between depression and cardiovascular disease was described. Unintentionally , this psychiatric disorder was not originally included in the risk factors "cluster". However, there it is a growing body of medical evidence suggesting that depression is an independent risk factor for the coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction; more­over it has negative impact in the prognosis of patients with cardiovascular disease. Many studies explain the pathophysiological links between depression and vascular disease. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis disfunction together with abnormal platetet reactivity produce direct injury on the vascu­lar endothelium, the first step to atherosclero­sis process and its clinical consequences.