title: Does improving mood in depressed patients alter factors that may affect cardiovascular disease risk?
abstract: To determine if improvement in mood would ameliorate autonomic dysregulation, HPA dysfunction, typical risk factors and C-reactive protein in depressed patients with elevated cardiovascular disease risk (CVD), 48 depressed participants with elevated cardiovascular risk factors were randomized to a cognitive behavioral intervention (CBT) or a waiting list control (WLC) condition. Twenty non-depressed age and risk-matched controls were also recruited. Traditional risk factors (e.g., lipids, blood pressure) and C-reactive protein were assessed pre- and post-treatment six months later. Subjects also underwent a psychophysiological stress test while cardiovascular physiology was measured. Salivary cortisol was measured during the day and during the psychological stress test. At post-treatment, the CBT subjects were significantly less depressed than WLC subjects. There was no significant difference in change scores on any of the traditional risk factors or C-reactive protein, cortisol measures, or cardiovascular physiology, except for triglyceride levels and heart rate, which were significantly lower in treatment compared to control subjects. The normal controls exhibited no change in the variables measured during the same time. A significant improvement in mood may have little impact on most traditional or atypical risk factors, cortisol or cardiophysiology.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford Medical Center, 401 Quarry Rd, Room 1316, Stanford, CA 94305-5722, USA. btaylor@stanford.edu
authors: C Barr
authors: CB
authors: Taylor
authors: Ansgar
authors: A
authors: Conrad
authors: Frank H
authors: FH
authors: Wilhelm
authors: Diane
authors: D
authors: Strachowski
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Khaylis
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Neri
authors: Janine
authors: J
authors: Giese-Davis
authors: Walton T
authors: WT
authors: Roth
authors: John P
authors: JP
authors: Cooke
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Kraemer
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Spiegel
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D006854:Hydrocortisone