Depression after heart attack: Is there a link between depression and heart problems?
Many people become depressed after having a heart attack, and depression can make heart problems worse. Treating depression could improve the quality of life in people who are depressed after a heart attack. The most common cause of death in industrial countries is myocardial infarction (heart attack). But many people who survive a heart attack become depressed for a while. Milder symptoms of depression usually get better by themselves a short time after a heart attack. However, some people develop more major depression, which can last longer. Despite the importance of this illness, not enough is known about how common depression is after a heart attack, and how to successfully treat it. This is why researchers from the American Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) systematically reviewed the evidence about this topic. The research they found had been done in the USA and Europe. Among other things, they were interested in: • how many people became depressed after a heart a
