title: Outcome of treatment with antidepressants in patients with hypertension and undetected depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the research was to determine whether the administration of antidepressants, concurrently with antihypertensive therapy, leads to the better regulation of blood pressure in patients with hypertension and increased depressiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research was conducted in two outpatient family clinics in Rijeka, Croatia, on 452 patients with arterial hypertension who had not been diagnosed with depression prior to the study. The diagnosis of hypertension was made in accordance with the European Society of Hypertension and the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension. Using the Beck Depression Inventory and the ICD-10 criteria for depression, a group of depressed hypertensive patients (N = 134) was selected. Out of a total of 134 selected patients, 73 patients (N = 73) were receiving antidepressants together with antihypertensives for 24 weeks. They formed the experimental group. The rest of the patients (N = 61) continued to receive only antihypertensives and they formed the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the end of the 24-week therapy, the experimental group of patients had significantly lower levels of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Z = 7.42; P < 0.001; and Z = 7.36; P < 0.001). The control group saw no significant difference between the level of blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) prior to and after this period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of antidepressant therapy in patients with hypertension who are also depressed may be associated with the better control of blood pressure, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in addition to alleviating depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: University of Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Diminic-Lisica
authors.affiliation: University of Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Branislava
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Popovic
authors.affiliation: KBC Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rebic
authors.affiliation: Mostar Clinical Hospital, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Miro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klaric
authors.affiliation: University of Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Franciškovic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: antidepressants; blood pressure regulation; hypertension; undetected depression