Depression in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Dimos Mastrogiannis, TEI of Lamia; Gregory Giamouzis, Larissa University Hospital; Efthimios Dardiotis, Larissa University Hospital; George Karayannis, Larissa University Hospital; Artemis Chroub-Papvaiou, Larissa University Hospital; Dimitra Kremeti, Larissa University Hospital; Kyriakos Spiliopoulos, Larissa University Hospital; Panagiotis Georgoulias, Larissa University Hospital; Stelios Koutsias, Larissa University Hospital; Konstantinos Bonotis, Larissa University Hospital; Marianna Mantzorou, TEI of Athens; John Skoularigis, Larissa University Hospital; Georgios M. Hadjigeorgiou, Larissa University Hospital; Javed Butler, Emory University; Triposkiadis Filippos, Larissa University Hospital
• Language: English
• Date: 2012-05-08
• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2012 Dimos Mastrogiannis et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://www.hindawi.com/journals/crp/2012/794762/
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Cardiology Research and Practice
• ISSN: 2090-8016
• Volume: 2012
• Issue: 2012
• Start Page: 1
• End Page: 10
• Research Categories: Biology, Neuroscience; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

It has been widely suggested that depression negatively affects patients with cardiovascular disease. There are several pathophysiological mechanisms as well as behavioral processes linking depression and cardiac events. Improvements in nursing and medical care have prolonged survival of this patient population; however, this beneficial outcome has led to increased prevalence of depression. Since mortality rates in chronic heart failure patients remain extremely high, it might be as equally important to screen for depression and there are several valid and reliable screening tools that healthcare personnel could easily employ to identify patients at greater risk. Consultation should be provided by a multidisciplinary team, consisting of cardiologists, psychiatrists, and hospital or community nurses so as to carefully plan, execute, and evaluate medical intervention and implement lifestyle changes. We aim to systematically review the existing knowledge regarding current definitions, prognostic implications, pathophysiological mechanisms, and current and future treatment options in patients with depression and cardiovascular disease, specifically those with heart failure.