Several kinds of systematic studies have been conducted verifying the putative association between β-blockers and depressive symptoms. However, many of these studies had important limitations in their design. In most of the studies, no effect of β-blockers on depressive symptoms was seen. Because individual susceptibility cannot be ruled out, clinicians must stay vigilant, especially with patients who have a positive personal or family history and who have been prescribed lipophilic β-blockers. However, fear for depression should not be the reason for reluctance in prescribing β-blockers to cardiovascular patients.
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