Vascular Depression / 신경정신의학

ABSTRACT

The 'vascular depression' hypothesis is supported by the high incidence of depression among patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease or stroke, and the association of geriatric depression with silent stroke or white matter hyperintensity on neuroimaging scans. The vascular depression might be a valid new concept, making it worthwhile to be a new subtype of depression with different etiology, clinical manifestation, treatment method, and prognosis. Additionally, it can be suggested that the primary and secondary prevention of depression related with cerebrovascular disease can be possible by reducing the risk factors of cerebrovascular disease. The further study should be carried out to verify the diagnostic criteria of vascular depression and to develop pharmacotherapy for prevention and treatment. The more effort to understand and investigate vascular depression should be made in Korea where the cerebrovascular disease ranks first in cause of death and there may have been many untreated vascular depression patients.