Post-infarct Depression appears to 15-30% of the patients treated in the Infarction Units, according to the International Standards. It appears 24-72 hours following an Acute Infarction of the Myocardium.

We studied 300 patients treated in the Infraction Treatment Unit for a period of three months, within the framework of a Liaison Consultation Psychiatry program. 180 patients were men (60%) and 120 patients were women (40%). The average age of male patients was 52 years and the average age of female patients was 58 years. These patients were submitted to the Montgomery-Arnsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) to evaluate Depression. According to the results of the Scale, these 120 patients presented depressive symptomatology, 45 patients presented mild symptomatology, 70 patients presented average symptomatology, and 5 patients presented heavy symptomatology.

All the above patients were treated with SSRIs. In particular, they received Fluoxetin, Sitalopram, Esitalopram, Fluvoxamine, Sertraline. The MADRS Scale has been evaluated on 15 days, 1, 2, 3, and 6 months following the initiation of therapy. 110 patients (91%) presented a significant reduction of MADRS Scale, while 10 patients (9%) showed resistance to the treatment and had to switch their treatment scheme with SNRIS or NASSAS.

The SSRIs constitute the most advisable treatment for post-infraction depression, due to their low side-effect profile. The rate of positive outcome for post-infarction depression treatment was especially high (91%) during treatment with SSRIs at a level consistent with the international literature reference.