title: Cardioversion of persistent atrial arrhythmia after treatment with venlafaxine in successful management of major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: There is increasing evidence linking depression and cardiovascular disease. However, the authors could find no literature directly linking depression with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. The authors report the case of a patient with uncontrolled atrial arrhythmia who cardioverted to normal sinus rhythm after treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with venlafaxine. The authors discuss comorbidity of MDD and atrial fibrillation, and explore evidence of venlafaxine as an antiarrhythmic agent. Further research is needed to establish the clinical role of venlafaxine as a Class 1 antiarrhythmic agent and any association between atrial arrhythmias and MDD and PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. sjf@post.queensu.ca
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.forename: Louis T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: van Zyl
mesh_terms: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride