Many factors can contribute to an increased risk for CHD
in depressed patients. The concept of a bio-behavioural
model to explain the relationship between depression and
CHD is gaining support in the literature [2,4,8]. This model
includes variables varying from an increased presence of
classical risk factors for CHD (such as smoking, hypertension,
diabetes and physical inactivity) to changes in the immune
system, dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system
and increased platelet reactivity and coagulation.