A review on the putative association between beta-blockers and depression.

Several kinds of systematic studies have been conducted verifying the putative association between β-blockers and depressive symptoms. However, many of these studies had important limitations in their design. In most of the studies, no effect of β-blockers on depressive symptoms was seen. Because individual susceptibility cannot be ruled out, clinicians must stay vigilant, especially with patients who have a positive personal or family history and who have been prescribed lipophilic β-blockers. However, fear for depression should not be the reason for reluctance in prescribing β-blockers to cardiovascular patients.