Metabolic syndrome in patients with depressive disorder--features of comorbidity.

BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with increased physical morbidity and overall mortality. The results of a previous investigation on the relationship of the metabolic syndrome and its single components with coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and all-cause mortality suggested that the metabolic syndrome is a marker of CVD risk, but not above and beyond the risk associated with its individual components. The aim of this article is to review literature regarding prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with depressive disorder, and association between metabolic syndrome and depression.

CONTENT ANALYSIS OF LITERATURE: Literature research included structured searches of Medline and other publications on the subject of metabolic syndrome, particularly prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with depressive disorder, and association between metabolic syndrome and depression.

CONCLUSION: Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with depression is high and varies among the analysed studies. Some investigations showed association between metabolic syndrome and depression. Further investigations are necessary in order to clarify the association between metabolic syndrome and depression.