rss
Postgrad Med J 2005;81:33-40 doi:10.1136/pgmj.2003.015230
  • Review

Heart and mind: (2) psychotropic and cardiovascular therapeutics

  1. S U Shah1,
  2. Z Iqbal2,
  3. A White3,
  4. S White3
  1. 1University Hospital Birmingham and University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
  2. 2Department of Cardiology, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, North Wales, UK
  3. 3University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr Saeed Ullah Shah
 Department of Cardiology, Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, North Wales, UK; saeedshahmiranshah.freeserve.co.uk
  • Received 19 September 2003
  • Accepted 7 August 2004

Abstract

There is a plausible biological basis for the association between psychiatric morbidity and cardiovascular disease. Anxiety, panic disorder, and depression are common in patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension. Despite this evidence there is poor recognition of anxiety disorders and depression in primary care and hospital medical practice. Concern also surrounds the use of psychotropic drugs in patients with cardiovascular disease. In the first of the two articles on this subject, we highlighted the current evidence regarding the association between cardiovascular and psychotropic conditions. In this second article, we discuss the interaction of the drugs used in the management of these two varied but commonly coexistent group of diseases as well as their relative effects on either system. Finally, we summarise the data regarding the safe use of these medications based on the recommendations from the currently available evidence.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.