Posted on August 17, 2001 at 10:17 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The risk factors for heart disease are well known — smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol — but UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) researchers are looking at clinical depression as another potential risk factor for heart disease.

“Recent reports in the medical literature indicate that depression may increase the risk for heart attack among men,” says Dr. Jerome Markovitz, UAB associate professor in preventive medicine. “Also, there is evidence that depression can also significantly increase the risk of patients having a second heart attack.”

Markovitz says one possible connection is that patients diagnosed with depression often have increased activity of blood platelets. Increased platelet activity may increase the likelihood of clotting, which could contribute to heart attack.

“We’ve discovered that the class of anti-depressant medication know as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) seem to control platelet activity in depressed patients,” says Markovitz.

Markovitz is conducting research aimed at determining how much effect SSRI’s have on platelet activity. He is also looking at whether another anti-depressant, which has no effect on the brain chemical serotonin, may also play a role in platelet activity.

The study hopes to enroll 270 patients between the ages of 20 and 54, who are non-smokers and are not currently on antidepressant medication for an eight-week clinical trial. Study subjects will receive one of two medications currently used in the treatment of depression, Zoloft or Wellbutrin.

Individuals interested in participating in the study can contact the UAB Recruitment and Retention Shared Facility at (205) 934-2374 or (800) 596-8645.