Effects of psychopharmacological treatment with antidepressants on the vascular system

Psychopharmacological treatment with antidepressants is an essential part of guideline-based treatment strategies in affective disorders, such as major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. Furthermore, antidepressants are frequently prescribed in patients with physical disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases, and comorbid depression. The type of association between physical diseases, particularly chronic diseases, and depression is bidirectional, meaning that affective disorders enhance the risk for the development of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, and that cardiovascular/metabolic disorders enhance the risk for the development of depressive disorders. Therefore, knowledge of vascular side effects of psychopharmacological treatment is important for clinicians. This clinical orientated review article covers direct and indirect effects of commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs on the vascular system.