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Depression and heart disease are linked
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Scientists at Sweden's largest medical university have discovered that heart disease affects the psychological state of patients; they shared their findings on this issue at the EuroHeartCare congress.
Research conducted by scientists shows that patients with heart and vascular diseases more often develop depressive disorders, which lead to exhaustion of the body. Experts note that heart patients have a harder time coping with stressful situations, however, in most cases, doctors do not prescribe antidepressants to such patients. It is known that stress and depression are risk factors for the development of a heart attack, in the latest study by a Swedish group, the relationship between heart disease and the development of depression was confirmed.
The researchers also found out that doctors very rarely prescribe medications for depression to heart patients, which, of course, was surprising. As one of the authors of the project explained, the reason may be the unwillingness of doctors to delve into the essence of the disease, look for the main causes of the development of pathology and select individual treatment in each individual case. This approach leads to the fact that patients do not go for additional consultation with a psychologist, but receive various heart medications, as a result of which depressive disorders acquire a severe form, are more difficult to treat and can cause death.
As studies have shown, in almost half of cases of depressive disorders that are difficult to treat with conventional methods, hidden somatic pathologies arise, most of which are influenced by psychological factors. Treatment of such disorders takes quite a long time, often years. In addition, patients with heart disease themselves do not want to seek help and undergo treatment.
According to one of the authors of the scientific work, Barbro Kälströ, almost every person today faces stress on a daily basis and is forced to cope with its various manifestations, since the modern rhythm of life does not allow a person to fully rest and switch off.
Depression is becoming an increasingly common disease, affecting millions of people to varying degrees (according to some data, about 20% of the population in developed countries suffers from various depressive disorders).
Depression is considered a rather serious illness that leads to decreased performance, severe mental suffering (not only for the patient, but also for his relatives), and in severe cases, suicidal tendencies. That is why doctors in all countries are concerned about the current situation, and scientists offer various ways to combat this illness. For example, American specialists have offered a rather simple, but, in their opinion, effective way to combat depression – live communication.
As shown by studies in which 11 thousand people took part, those people who communicate mainly via social networks or telephones are more prone to depressive disorders. Volunteers who communicated with their loved ones and friends "in person" had an 11.5% lower risk of developing depression, bad mood, and despondency.
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