Anxio-depressive disorders in a pandemic context: A comparative analysis: year 2019 versus 2020

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in increased rates of anxiety and depression worldwide. Objective. To comparatively evaluate factors associated with the psychological impact of Coronavirus disease between 2019 and the pandemic year 2020. Materials and Methods. The study was performed on a group of 3224 patients, of which 197 were hospitalized, selected from Jan 1st 2019 until 30th Dec 2020 in a tertiary care center for psychiatric disorders. Data were collected from the observation charts. Results. The incidence of anxiety disorders is higher in the age range 40-70 years with an average value of 53 years old. In 2019, a third of patients (29,45%) had alcohol-related conditions and developed anxiety-depressive disorder. In 2020, the percentage was lower (9.38%), but also the number of admitted patients significantly decreased (p<0.0001). There were not found significant differences in age, gender or environment. Hypnotic disorders were more predominant in 2019 (54.6% vs 37.5%, p=0.01), whereas in 2020 anxiety and agitation increased significantly (34.4% vs 84.38%, p=0.0001). Relapses were similarly frequent in both years, in half of the cases. Conclusions. Coronavirus pandemic lead to a decrease in both presentations and admission to hospital. Although there were not found significant differences in age or gender, more patients from urban environment were admitted, which can have several explanations. Anxiety and agitation became the main reason for hospitalization in 2020.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Health of People with Mental Disorders

The aim of the review was to analyze published studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health status (mental and physical) of people with mental disorders. Materials and methods: by keywords "COVID-19”, "depressive disorders”, "affective disorders”, "schizophrenia”, "anxiety disorders” search for papers in English and Russian in the databases MEDLINE/ PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, eLibrary for the period from 2017 to 2022 was carried out. Conclusion: the analysis of published works has demonstrated that factors such as social distancing, isolation, or changing the availability of medical services can have a signifi cant infl uence on the health of people with mental disorders. It has been established that people suffering from mental illness are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, they have less effective post-vaccination immunity and have a more severe course of the disease. The past coronavirus infection can lead to both an increase in pre-existing symptoms of a mental disorder, and the emergence of new ones. Possible physiological mechanisms of mental disorders after past COVID-19 include a wide range of pathogenetic processes: from prolonged systemic infl ammation of varying intensity to vascular microthrombosis and neurodegenerative changes. Cognitive impairment during COVID-19, associated with damage to brain structures by the virus, may exacerbate existing psychopathological symptoms. The special features of psychopathological symptoms that develop in response to a pandemic situation are closely related to the structure of the previous mental status of patients, and therefore the types of psychosocial assistance needed is different for people with various mental disorders. © 2023, Psychiatry (Moscow). All Rights Reserved.

Telehealth: a new opportunity for out-patient psychiatric services

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems rapidly embraced technology as a means of providing care while adhering to social distancing protocols. In this brief article, we report on a new telehealth initiative recently implemented in an out-patient psychiatric setting and outline the novel role telehealth may serve in facilitating psychiatric care globally. The uptake of telehealth represents a new and exciting opportunity to increase both access to, and quality of, care for people with mental illness. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of BJPsych International is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Adaptation of a mobile app for early anxiety and depression intervention in university students in Chile: Participatory study

The high prevalence of mental health problems among university students poses a challenge when developing effective interventions, with digital technologies emerging as a potential resource to address this problem. The inclusion of student input in the design and development of such interventions is critical to improving their impact. This study contributed to the initial phase of a research project that aims to adapt and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an early intervention for anxiety and depression based on digital technologies for university students. Three participatory workshops were conducted with 13 university students in Chile to inquire about the features and content that a mental health mobile app should include to meet their needs and preferences. The workshop transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The results of this study highlight the value of modifications such as the personalisation of some features of the app. The students recommended incorporating topics related to university life and the possibility of contacting a mental health professional, as well as the inclusion of peer interaction or other forms of support.Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Mental health in Germany in the first weeks of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

BACKGROUND: In the connected world, although societies are not directly involved in a military conflict, they are exposed to media reports of violence. AIMS: We assessed the effects of such exposures on mental health in Germany during the military conflict in Ukraine. METHOD: We used the German population-based cohort for digital health research, DigiHero, launching a survey on the eighth day of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Of the 27 509 cohort participants from the general population, 19 444 (70.7%) responded within 17 days. We measured mental health and fear of the impact of war compared with other fears (natural disasters or health-related). RESULTS: In a subsample of 4441 participants assessed twice, anxiety in the population (measured by the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 screener) was higher in the first weeks of war than during the strongest COVID-19 restrictions. Anxiety was elevated across the whole age spectrum, and the mean was above the cut-off for mild anxiety. Over 95% of participants expressed various degrees of fear of the impact of war, whereas the percentage for other investigated fears was 0.47-0.82. A one-point difference in the fear of the impact of war was associated with a 2.5 point (95% CI 2.42-2.58) increase in anxiety (11.9% of the maximum anxiety score). For emotional distress, the increase was 0.67 points (0.66-0.68) (16.75% of the maximum score). CONCLUSIONS: The population in Germany reacted to the Russo-Ukrainian war with substantial distress, exceeding reactions during the strongest restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic. Fear of the impact of war was associated with worse mental health.

[Depressive disorders of working Poles during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019-2022)]. / Zaburzenia depresyjne pracujacych Polaków w okresie pandemii COVID-19 (lata 2019­2022).

BACKGROUND: The problem of the intensification of mental disorders, including depressive disorders, is well documented in the world, but in Poland data on this subject are still insufficient. It can be assumed that the worldwide increase in mental health problems resulting from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the winter of 2019 could also change the current statistics with regard to depressive disorders occurring in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Longitudinal studies diagnosing depressive disorders were carried out on a representative group of 1112 Poles working in various occupations, employed on the basis of various types of employment contracts in the period January-February 2021, and a year later. During the first measurement of depressive disorders, the respondents were also asked to retrospectively assess the severity of these disorders in the early autumn of 2019, i.e., 6 months before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression was diagnosed using the Patient Health Questionnaire PHQ-9 (PHQ-9). RESULTS: The results of the research presented in the article indicate a significant increase in the level of depression among working Poles in the period 2019-2022, as well as an exacerbation of the severity of its symptoms, probably resulting from the outbreak of the pandemic. However, in the years 2021-2022, a growing level of depression was observed only among working women, less educated people, people engaged in physical and mental work, as well as people with less stable employment (temporary work contracts, specific-task contracts and fixed-term contracts). CONCLUSIONS: Due to the high individual, organizational and social costs that generate depressive disorders, there is an urgent need to develop a comprehensive depression prevention strategy, including programs to prevent these disorders in the workplace. This need applies in particular to working women, people with lower social capital and those with less stable type of employment. Med Pr. 2023;74(1):41-51.

The Local Awareness-Raising of Public Mental Health in the Capital City of Poland through Launch of Local Alliance against Depression.

The goal of this brief report is to show the specificity of building local alliances against depression in an Eastern European country within and after the series of 2021 lockdowns. It will be described in the form of a short communication piece. The semi-peripheral specificity of Poland adds some insights which will be useful for other leaders of similar alliances globally. This short report can be read as a higher resolution of the European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD) method activities known from other recent works. We want to answer the question of how to begin the activity and launch such an alliance in the semi-peripheral context of non-Western Europe.

Efficacy of virtual interventions for reducing symptoms of depression in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Older adults experience symptoms of depression, leading to suffering and increased morbidity and mortality. Although we have effective depression therapies, physical distancing and other public health measures have severely limited access to in-person interventions. OBJECTIVE: To describe the efficacy of virtual interventions for reducing symptoms of depression in community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Systematic review. SETTING: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Libraries, PsycINFO, and gray literature from inception to July 5, 2021. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: We included randomized trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of virtual interventions to any other virtual intervention or usual care in community-dwelling adults ≥60 years old experiencing symptoms of depression or depression as an outcome. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was change in symptoms of depression measured by any depression scale. RESULTS: We screened 12,290 abstracts and 830 full text papers. We included 15 RCTs (3100 participants). Five RCTs examined persons with depression symptoms at baseline and ten examined depression as an outcome only. Included studies demonstrated feasibility of interventions such as internet or telephone cognitive behavioral therapy with some papers showing statistically significant improvement in depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: There is a paucity of studies examining virtual interventions in older adults with depression. Given difficulty in accessing in-person therapies in a pandemic and poor access for people living in rural and remote regions, there is an urgent need to explore efficacy, effectiveness, and implementation of virtual therapies.

One-year results from the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 infection in 47 million individuals with severe mental disorders and other chronic diseases.

Severe mental disorders have been associated with increased COVID-19 mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 after 1 year using exhaustive population-based data. In this nationwide population-based study, we used data from the French national medico-administrative database (SNDS) and the COVID Vaccine teleservice from January 4, 2021 (date of activation of the teleservice) to January 30th, 2022. As of January 30th, 2022, the rate of first injection in France was 80.2% (54 million people) and the rate of booster vaccination was 78.3% (52.7 million people). Except for opioid use disorder, all individuals with chronic illnesses or risk factors for poor COVID-19 outcome (e.g., smoking and obesity) had higher rates of vaccination than the general population (from 83.4 to 94.5% vs. 78.3%). However, the four diseases ranking last for both initial and booster vaccinations were mental disorders: alcohol use disorders (86 and 84.3%), neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders (85.3 and 83.7%), schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (85 and 83.4%) and opioid use disorders (72.9 and 69.4%). Except for opioid disorders, all patients with mental disorders had higher rates of vaccination compared to the general population. However, these rates were lower than other chronic diseases at risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. Vaccination campaigns must redouble their efforts to improve vaccination penetration in patients with mental disorders.

The effects of mandatory home quarantine on mental health in a community sample during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: Major public and scientific interest exists on, whether quarantine as a containment measure, could have adverse effects on individual's mental health. We investigated psychic well-being and distress, symptoms of depression and anxiety among individuals imposed to home quarantine. METHODS: By total population sampling in a Finnish suburban city, a total of 57 quarantined cases (participation rate 97%) were identified and followed up for two weeks until expiration of the quarantine. A randomized control group (n = 53) was formed of people seeking laboratory testing for suspected Sars-CoV-2 infection. Primary outcome was the psychic well-being and distress experienced during quarantine measured by the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure (CORE-OM). The cases were followed up by the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-10 (CORE-10), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and by the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS). RESULTS: The median CORE-OM score for the cases was 3.53 (95% CI: 2.23-4.66), and for the controls 3.24 (1.76-3.82), being mostly in the nonclinical to mild range. The difference between the groups was statistically nonsignificant (p = .19). Higher levels of psychic distress were explained by previous psychiatric disorders and living alone, but not having been quarantined. In comparison to controls, the quarantined participants experienced significantly, but slightly lower level of life functioning. At the follow-up, the quarantined participants rated further low on the CORE-10 (median 2.00; 95% CI: 1.00-3.00), the PHQ-9 (1.50; 0.00-3.00), and the OASIS (0.00; 0.00-0.00). CONCLUSIONS: The distress associated with short-term home quarantine may not be to the degree of a mental disorder.

Is Primary Bone Marrow Edema of the Knee Associated with Thyroid Disorders? A Retrospective Clinical Study.

Primary bone marrow edema (BME) of the knee is still an elusive condition. This retrospective study was undertaken to gain insight into its characteristic features. The records of 48 patients with primary BME of the knee diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging were reviewed. Demographic data, medical history, current medications, pain type, smoking and drinking habits, allergies, occupation, sports practiced, environmental factors, and life events predating symptom onset were examined. Data analysis demonstrated that 56.3% of patients had experienced a stressful event before BME pain onset and that 50% suffered from thyroid disorders. Standard conservative treatment resulted in pain resolution irrespective of the use of anti-inflammatories. However, most patients reported new persistent symptoms: dysesthesia/hypoesthesia on palpation in the skin area overlying the previous edema and a reduced ipsilateral patellar reflex. To our knowledge, this is the first study characterizing a substantial cohort of patients with BME. We found that middle-aged, sedentary, and slightly overweight women smokers are the typical patients with primary BME of the knee. The appearance and persistence of cutaneous dysesthesia/hypoesthesia at the site of the earlier lesion and ipsilateral patellar hyporeflexia implicate an autonomous nervous system dysfunction in BME pathogenesis and warrant further investigation.

Involvement of inflammatory responses in the brain to the onset of major depressive disorder due to stress exposure.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifactorial disease affected by several environmental factors. Although several potential onset hypotheses have been identified, the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of this disorder remain unclear. Several recent studies have suggested that among many environmental factors, inflammation and immune abnormalities in the brain or the peripheral tissues are associated with the onset of MDDs. Furthermore, several stress-related hypotheses have been proposed to explain the onset of MDDs. Thus, inflammation or immune abnormalities can be considered stress responses that occur within the brain or other tissues and are regarded as one of the mechanisms underlying the stress hypothesis of MDDs. Therefore, we introduce several current advances in inflammation studies in the brain that might be related to the pathophysiology of MDD due to stress exposure in this review.

ON THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF SOME PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONS IN THE THERAPY OF COVID-19 INFECTION (BRIEF LITERATURE REVIEW)

The COVID-19 pandemic that is currently raging in the world caused, together with quarantine restrictions and other measures to combat it, significant distress in the human population. This distress has led to a sharp increase in the incidence of mental disorders in the population, especially of depressive, anxiety and stress-related disorders. This increase in psychiatric morbidity, in turn, significantly increased the number of people needing to take certain psychotropic drugs. On the other hand, the current lack of effective specific agents for the treatment of COVID-19 infection also posed the task of finding potential candidates for repositioning of a new indication (treatment of this new infection) among already registered drugs. Among the drugs screened for potential efficacy against the new SARS-CoV-2 virus, thousands of drugs which are currently registered in the world, of course, there are many psychotropic drugs. Some of them actually turned out to be promising candidates for such repositioning. In this brief review, we show that several classes of psychotropic drugs can be potential candidates for repositioning for the treatment of COVID-19: ligands of sigma-1 and sigma-2 receptors (primarily fluvoxamine, but possibly others, including the innovative Russian anxiolytic fabomotizole (Afobazole), melatonergic agonists (exogenous melatonin and possibly also agomelatine (Valdoxan) and, again, fabomotizole (Afobazole)), as well as peptide bioregulators with nootropic, antidepressant, anti-anxiety, anti-stress and immunomodulatory properties (Noopept, Selang). Copyright © 2021 Izdatel'stvo Meditsina. All rights reserved.

COVID 19 survivors : Feeling suicidal ?

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with several psychiatric manifestations leaving undoubtedly psychological consequences. However by escaping death ,do COVID-19 survivors present a higher risk for suicide ? Objectives: In this study, we aimed to explore suicidal risk among recovering COVID 19 patients . Method(s): Our literature review was based on the PubMed interface and adapted for 2 databases: Science Direct and Google Scholar using the following combination ( suicide [MeSH terms]) AND (COVID-19 survivors[MeSH terms]). Result(s): Recovering COVID 19 patients are at risk for developping posttraumatic stress disorder , anxiety , depression and sleep abnormalities , especially in severe forms. Added to that ,cognitive impairment was largely described in COVID 19 causing judgment and reasoning decline. These manifestations would partially explain the suicidiality among survivors regardless to their medical hisotry. Nonetheless,many COVID-19 survivors experience persistent physical symptoms and psychiatric disorders leading to post-COVID syndrome which is associated with increased suicidal ideation and behavior In addition , social factors are considered as a suicide risk factor such as isolation ,loss of loved ones ,loss of job and economic instability . Conclusion(s): Over the course of illness , COVID 19 survivors may suffer from psychiatric and medical conditions leading to serieous suicide risk. Therefore ,suicide prevention interventions and appropriate medical management need to be provided to keep survivors alive.

The Relationship of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Emotional Distress in Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence notes increased depression, anxiety, and stress among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about populations at increased risk for emotional distress as the pandemic continues. Persons with adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are one group that may be at higher risk for emotional distress. AIM: The aim of this study is to examine whether young adults, particularly Black young adults, with histories of ACEs report more emotional distress during the pandemic than those with no ACE exposure. METHOD: Using a cross-sectional, quota sampling approach, 100 Black and 100 White young adults were recruited using online sources (e.g., University website, Facebook). Due to the pandemic, participants were screened via Zoom and, if eligible, completed a demographic questionnaire, emotional distress measures (i.e., anxiety, depression, stress), and the ACE Questionnaire online via a Qualtrics survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis examined the ACE and emotional distress relationship, and multigroup SEM assessed racial differences. RESULTS: High levels of both emotional distress and ACEs were observed. Black young adults reported significantly more ACEs than Whites. ACEs were significantly associated with each measure of emotional distress regardless of race or other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Findings reveal that during the pandemic, persons exposed to ACEs reported greater emotional distress than those with no ACE exposure. Nurses must screen patients for both emotional distress and ACE to target those at higher risk for early intervention and initiate treatment as needed to mitigate long-term mental health consequences.

Aspects of sexual life that are associated with the occurrence of depressive disorders and autonomic dysfunction among medical students of National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya

Depressive disorders are widespread nowadays. First of all, this was affected by social isolation related to covid-19, and starting from 2022 – the war in our country. Depression and sexual life are connected and important, because a person with a depressive disorder cannot fully live a social and sexual life. As a result, the birth rate in the country and the population in general decreases. Therefore, the issue of studying the occurrence of depressive disorders in young sexually active and inactive people is extremely relevant. The aim. The main objective of this work was to explore the different areas of sexual life of residents and its association with mental health. Additionally, differences in sexual life and mental health (depression) based on gender were also analyzed. Materials and methods. An anonymous survey of 506 medical students of NPMMU, V has been conducted using a questionnaire that included 25 questions on various aspects of the sexual life of the respondents. The analysis of the obtained results of the study was carried out on the basis of the computer programme “Statistica 6.1” using nonparametric methods to evaluate obtained results. The results. We found a statistically significant association between sexual activity and condition of mental health. Results regarding young adults, presented lower levels of sexual satisfaction and greater depression, whereas young women also exhibited higher levels of depression. Conclusions. Sexual life has a positive effect on the mental and psychological health of respondents. This information should be conveyed to young people.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and previous pandemics, epidemics and economic crises on mental health: systematic review.

BACKGROUND: A rise in mental illness is expected to follow the COVID-19 pandemic, which has also been projected to lead to a deep global economic recession, further adding to risk factors. AIMS: The aim of this review was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and previous pandemics, epidemics and economic crises on mental health. METHOD: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Sociological Abstracts. We included studies of all populations exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic, and other similar pandemics/epidemics and economic crises, compared with non-exposed time periods or regions. The outcome was mental health. RESULTS: The 174 included studies assessed mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic (87 studies), 2008 economic crisis (84 studies) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic (three studies). Outcomes were divided into affective disorders, suicides, mental healthcare utilisation and other mental health. COVID-19 pandemic studies were of lesser quality than those for the economic crisis or SARS epidemic. Most studies for all exposures showed increases in affective disorders and other mental health problems. For economic crisis exposure, increases in mental healthcare utilisation and suicides were also found, but these findings were mixed for COVID-19 pandemic exposure. This is probably because of quarantine measures affecting help-seeking and shorter follow-ups of studies of COVID-19 pandemic exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of available, accessible and sustainable mental health services. Also, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations should be particular targets of policy interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Association between COVID-19 testing uptake and mental disorders among adults in US post-secondary education, 2020-2021.

SUMMARY: Fear and uncertainty have worsened mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 testing is essential yet underutilised, and many people may experience difficulties accessing testing if the US federal government fails to sustain the testing capacity. To date, limited evidence exists about the role of COVID-19 testing in mental health. We examined the associations of COVID-19 testing uptake with certain mental disorders, through a nationally representative cohort of adults in US post-secondary education (N = 65 360). Adults with test-confirmed COVID-19 were at significantly lower risk than those with unconfirmed COVID-19 for severe depression, severe anxiety, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation. Findings suggest another potential benefit of public health efforts to encourage COVID-19 testing, namely promoting mental health.

Postpartum Depression after Maternal Isolation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The MUMI-19 Study (Mothers Undergoing Mental Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic).

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world by imposing unprecedented health measures, including in the postpartum period. OBJECTIVES: We aim to assess the impact of maternal isolation in the immediate postpartum period on the rate of postpartum depression (PPD) in a tertiary center. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective cohort study, between 22 April and 29 October 2020, using anonymous questionnaires on 265 participants (129 during lockdown and 135 outside). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used as screening for PPD. We used a univariate logistic regression model to analyze the association between risk factors and PPD. RESULTS: There was no difference between the two groups for PPD assessed by an EPDS score >10.5 on day 30 and/or day 60 (23.1% vs. 29.3%, p = 0.661) but on day 3 it was higher (31% vs. 17.8%, p = 0.015) during the lockdown period and partners were more impacted psychologically (48.3% vs. 10.5%, p < 0.001). Parity ≥1 was a protective factor for PPD (OR = 0.2, 95% CI [0.1-0.6], p = 0.003). Risk factors of PPD were: history of psychological abuses (OR = 6.4, CI 95% [1.1-37.6], p = 0.04), stressful life event (OR = 4.5, CI 95% [1.6-12.6], p = 0.004), and bad birth experience (OR = 5.1, CI 95% [1.4-17.8], p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Maternal isolation in the immediate postpartum period is associated with an increased rate of moderate to severe symptoms of postpartum blues. The well-known long-term consequences of PPD must be balanced against the expected benefits of partner's restrictive access to maternity ward.

Coronary heart disease and depressive disorders, pathogenesis and actual features of the relationship

In the conditions of the existing pandemic, that affects both the physical and psychological health of people, it can be pre-dicted with a high degree of probability an outbreak in mental disorders and stress-associated mental illnesses, including depression. The problem of the relationship between depression and cardiac diseases, in particular coronary heart disease (CHD), has been studied by native and foreign scientists for several decades. Various mechanisms have been found and con-tinue to be studied, indicating that the presence of depression can affect more or less on the course of coronary heart disease and even become a predictor of new cardiac events. Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system with changes in heart rate variability, hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and associated hypercortisolemia, disorders of serotonergic signal transmission pathways, high aggregation response and increased platelet activity, continuous increase of proinflamma-tory cytokines ((IL17A, IL6, TNFa and IL12p70) in patients’ plasma – such mechanisms probably underlie the correlation between depression and an increased risk of cardiovascular complications and cardiac death. The review includes some features of depression and its influence on various forms of coronary heart disease, particularly in different age and gender groups. In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this theme seems to be relevant and requires targeted study. Probably it is necessary to conduct clinical researches, to create registers for a detailed assessment of the mutual influence of depression and coronary heart disease in existing conditions. Perhaps, the results of such work will contribute not only to the early detec-tion and treatment of depression, but also to the development of new ways in primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and its acute forms. © 2022, Remedium Group Ltd. All rights reserved.