Clinical trial evidence for treatment of depression in heart failure.

Depression is an important disease state that requires a significant amount of time and resources for proper management. The presence of depression in patients with cardiovascular disease has been strongly associated with detrimental effects in terms of morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the management of depression in heart failure patients, although several investigators continue to pursue optimal treatment strategies for depression in this population. While limited, the prospective clinical trial data evaluating interventions for depression management in patients with heart failure continue to produce promising findings for progressive and improved management of both depression and heart failure.