Vascular depression: where do we go from here?

Abstract

Vascular depression has been the topic of many studies since its revival at the end of the last century. Several important conclusions can be drawn from this research. First, from a conceptual point of view, it is a potentially valuable eiotological based new entity. Second, vascular depression encompasses not only depression with small vessel disease of the brain, but also poststroke depression, and depression related to myocardial infarction should be placed in this same category of vascular depression. Third, the treatment outcome and natural course of vascular depression have been much worse than that of the nonvascular depression. Fourth, more research on vascular depression is needed, especially on interventions. Poststroke antidepressant and psychoeducation therapy and vascular preventive interventions can probably improve outcome.

Keywords::

• apathy
• depression
• stroke
• symptom profile
• treatment
• vascular risk factors

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.