According to current estimates, more than three million people in Germany suffer from heart failure. Shortness of breath, decrease in performance, fatigue and water retention in the legs are the result.
But not only that: the psyche also suffers. At least a quarter of patients with heart failure also suffer from depression. Treating them, however, is not so easy, as the classic antidepressants are usually not suitable or less effective.
For example, recent studies have shown that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), unlike tricyclic antidepressants, are better tolerated but do not alleviate depressive symptoms. Why this is the case has not yet been conclusively clarified.
To improve the quality of life of those affected, psychotherapy should be sought in conjunction with regular physical activity. In cognitive behavioral therapy, negative thought patterns and deficits can be uncovered and worked on. Physical fitness increases blood flow to the muscles and brain, which can improve performance. In addition to optimal pharmacological therapy, patients with heart failure benefit from an individualized, multidisciplinary treatment regimen.
Source: German Heart Foundation press release, Heavy burden: depression in heart failure, 10.12.2018.
CARDIOVASC 2019; 18(1): 4
