Depressive Symptoms and Increased Risk of Stroke Mortality Over a 29-Year Period

Abstract
RESEARCH HAS identified several important risk factors for stroke, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, high cholesterol levels, and obesity1,2; however, little is known about the potential role of psychosocial factors in stroke incidence and mortality. This is surprising because psychosocial factors have been shown to be importantly related to all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality, prevalence and progression of carotid atherosclerosis, and acute myocardial infarction.3-10 In particular, convincing evidence has accumulated in the past decade identifying depression as a significant factor in CVD.5,7,11-17