Depression and heart disease

Alexander H. Glassman, Mario Maj, N. Sartorius

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the multiple interrelationships between depression and various physical diseases. The WPA is providing an update of currently available evidence on these interrelationships by the publication of three books, dealing with the comorbidity of depression with diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Many patients with cardiovascular disease also experience psychiatric symptoms and distress. Patients with psychiatric problems, particularly depression, may be more susceptible to cardiovascular disorders. The presence of depression aggravates the course of the disease and is associated with reduced compliance to prescribed medications and secondary prevention measures. Cardiologists and psychiatrists therefore need an awareness of these problems and to know how to assess their effect in a given patient, how to treat one disorder in the...