Abstract
Statins are the most commonly prescribed lipid-lowering agents in patients with cardiovascular disease, and more than half of the patients with cardiovascular disease have associated depressive symptoms, particularly post-myocardial infarction, which is a major trigger for depression. In our research, we tried to understand the anti-depressant effects of statins, the mechanisms, risks and benefits, and potential drug-drug interactions with anti-depressant medications. We reviewed all the relevant information from inception up to September 2022 regarding the anti-depressant effects of statins. The database used was PubMed, and the keywords were statins, major depression, post-myocardial infarction, and hydroxy methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors. We have screened each of the articles carefully, including both human and animal studies, and found a positive correlation between reduction in depressive symptoms with statin therapy as adjunctive treatment with conventional anti-depressants. In conclusion, statins as a monotherapy are not an effective treatment for depression post-myocardial infarction but are good add-on options along with standard therapy such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Statins are safe and have no serious drug-drug interactions with anti-depressants. We would like to encourage large-scale observational studies and further post-marketing surveillance to improve our knowledge regarding the effectiveness of statins in the treatment of depression.