Depression in vascular pathologies: the neurologist's point of view

Abstract

Rita Moretti, Elena Bernobich, Francesca Esposito, Paola Torre, Rodolfo M Antonello, Luisa De Angelis, Giuseppe BelliniMedicina Clinica, Ambulatorio Complicanze Internistiche Cerebrali, Dipartimento Universitario Clinici di scienze Mediche Tecnologiche e Traslazionali, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Trieste, ItalyAbstract: The coexistence of depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is regularly discussed, and much debated. There is strong evidence that there are pathophysiological mechanisms, particularly endothelial dysfunction, altered platelet aggregation, and hyperactivation of the thrombosis cascade, which coexist with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis dysfunction, and link depression to CVD. Therefore, depression should not be automatically considered to be a consequence of life impairment due to myocardial infarction or major stroke. Probably, it should be considered as one of the many other stressful events, or “genetic reactions to life”, which are risk factors for CVD development. This review will examine the significance of depression in clinical daily practice, its pathophysiology as a determinant in vascular events, and its real importance in, before, and after many CVD events.Keywords: depression, cardiovascular disease, stressful events, cardiovascular risks

Keywords

• Depression
• cardiovascular disease
• stressful events
• cardiovascular risks.