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History of depression but not current depression is associated with signs of atherosclerosis: data from the Gutenberg Health Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2013

M. E. Beutel ,
J. Wiltink ,
Y. Kirschner ,
C. Sinning ,
C. Espinola-Klein ,
P. S. Wild ,
T. Münzel ,
M. Blettner ,
I. Zwiener  and
K. Lackner
...Show all authors
M. E. Beutel
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
J. Wiltink
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
Y. Kirschner
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
C. Sinning
Affiliation:
Department of General and Interventional Cardiology, University Heart Center, Hamburg, Germany
C. Espinola-Klein
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
P. S. Wild
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
T. Münzel
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
M. Blettner
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
I. Zwiener
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
K. Lackner
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
M. Michal*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
*
*Address for correspondence: M. Michal, M.D., Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Untere Zahlbacher Str. 8, D-55131 Mainz, Germany. (Email: michal@uni-mainz.de)
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Abstract

Objectives

To test the vascular depression hypothesis in the general population, we analyzed the association between current depression, medical history of depression, cognitive and somatic depressive symptom dimensions and measures of atherosclerosis [intima–media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaques].

Method

We included a representative sample of 5000 participants from the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS). Depression was assessed by the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and IMT and carotid plaques were measured at both common carotid arteries using an edge detection system. Regression analyses were performed separately for participants with and without cardiovascular disease, adjusting for medical history, cardiovascular risk factors and psychotropic medication.

Results

Contrary to hypotheses, we found no increased IMT for somatic symptoms of depression; the same was true for depression and cognitive symptoms in the fully adjusted model. Only a moderate relationship between medical history of depression and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques was maintained after correction.

Conclusions

The relationship between depression and atherosclerosis may be more complex than previously assumed. Although the vascular depression hypothesis was not supported, our results support the hypothesis that lasting depression leads to arteriosclerosis.

Keywords

Cardiovascular diseasecarotid plaquesdepressionintima–media thickness
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 44 , Issue 5 , April 2014 , pp. 919 - 925
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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