Major depression as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease: therapeutic implications.

This review was conducted to analyze the literature regarding the association between psychological depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The literature was reviewed through Medline and Psychlit. Articles were located using search terms such as depression, CVD, coronary artery disease, and cardiac risk factor. The search included articles from 1980 through 1999. Both the cross-sectional and prospective data suggest that psychological depression is a risk factor for and an aggravating factor of preexisting CVD. Proposed pathophysiologic mechanisms and therapeutic implications are discussed.