Nonpharmacologic Therapeutics Targeting Sex Differences in the Comorbidity of Depression and Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Major depressive disorder has been associated with a significant risk for the development and progression of cardiovascular disease. The impact of depression on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is sex-dependent, with women having a greater risk for this comorbidity and poorer clinical outcomes. Although management of depressive symptomatology has been associated with a better prognosis in patients with comorbid depression and cardiovascular disease, a significant proportion remained undertreated, are refractory to antidepressant medications, or present cardiovascular side effects and drug interactions. The development and validation of novel, nonpharmacological interventions targeting the comorbidity of depression and cardiovascular disease in a sex-dependent manner may have a significant impact on the improvement of depressive symptomatology and cardiovascular outcomes with a better safety profile and broader applicability. The aim of this review is to evaluate existing nonpharmacologic therapeutics used for the management of this comorbidity and to review emerging interventions with potential sex-dependent effects on this population. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2022;52(1):14–19.]