Research highlights from the literature

The influence of mental state on the autonomic nervous system has long been recognized, but we are only just beginning to understand some of the mechanisms by which acute and chronic mental stress act to increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Acute stress can precipitate cardiac arrest, and chronic stress can increase blood pressure. Depression also has cardiovascular sequelae: treatment of patients with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can reduce the augmented sympathetic drive - and hence cardiovascular risk - as well as alleviate the clinical signs of depression.