Heart-Brain Disruptions in Depression: Exploring the Bidirectional Relationship.

This thesis reviews the interaction between depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD), positing that the relationship is bidirectional. The thesis begins by describing depression as a significant global health issue that predisposes people to CVD. In turn, the presence of CVD can trigger or worsen depression, creating a vicious cycle of deterioration in mental and physical health. Different mechanisms have been proposed that could explain this bidirectional relationship, among which dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, autonomic nervous system imbalances, alterations in the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), inflammatory pathways and lifestyle behavior. By integrating data from various studies, this thesis highlights the complex interactions between mental health and heart disease.