Project Summary

Daniel I. Galper, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2004) of University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, proposes to elucidate the relationship between depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in his research project. He notes the National Institute of Mental Health has identified the connection between depression and CVD as a priority area for research because depression is associated with an increased risk of CVD morbidity and death, and concurrent depression and CVD is allied with a greater public health burden. Dr. Galper plans on using a large epidemiological database and patients for his studies. An initial investigation will assess cardiac and vagus (the longest cranial nerve) function in a large sample of depressed patients to test if vagal dysfunction is related to severity of depression at baseline and following 12 weeks of exercise training. The study could improve the understanding of the mechanisms linking CVD and depression, and suggest novel treatments and ways to prevent CVD in patients with depression.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Unipolar Depression

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