What are the clinical trials that have been conducted to study the effect of depression on cardiovascular risk and outcomes?
The clinical trials that have been conducted to study the effect of depression on cardiovascular risk and outcomes include the ENRICHD (Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease) trial and the SADHART (Sertraline Antidepressant Heart Attack Randomized Trial). In the ENRICHD trial, 2481 patients with depression or low social support after myocardial infarction (MI) were randomized to usual care or cognitive behavioral therapy, supplemented by a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor when indicated. Active therapy was associated with improvements in depression and low social support but with no improvement in event-free survival after a mean 24 months of follow-up. In the SADHART trial, patients were randomized to sertraline or placebo for 24 weeks. Sertraline resulted in improved depressive symptoms and no change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), ventricular ectopy, or QT interval.