08/09/2025
The 2025 ESC Guidelines on Mental Health and Cardiovascular Disease represent a significant step forward in the integration of medical and psychological disciplines. The document highlights the bidirectional relationship between mental disorders and cardiovascular disease: depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder increase cardiovascular risk, while living with chronic heart disease raises the likelihood of developing emotional problems.
To address this challenge, the guidelines recommend the creation of multidisciplinary psycho-cardiac teams, composed of cardiologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, specialized nurses, and other health professionals. These teams enable a holistic, patient-centered approach, ensuring effective coordination of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.
The guidelines propose a stepped-care model, beginning with short, easy-to-administer screening tools (Whooley, PHQ-2, and GAD-2), followed, if necessary, by more comprehensive validated instruments for diagnostic confirmation. This methodology promotes early detection and timely intervention.
Regarding treatment, the document prioritizes non-pharmacological interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, and stress-reduction techniques (mindfulness, relaxation). When pharmacological treatment is indicated, the guidelines emphasize careful evaluation of cardiovascular safety, potential drug interactions, and the risk of QT prolongation.
In summary, the 2025 ESC Guidelines establish an innovative clinical framework that promotes genuine integration between mental and cardiovascular health, with the ultimate goal of improving prognosis, quality of life, and psychological well-being for patients.
References
Bueno H, Deaton C, et al. 2025 ESC Clinical Consensus Statement on Mental Health and Cardiovascular Disease. Developed under the auspices of the ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee; 29 August 2025. European Society of Cardiology. Escardio
Bueno H, Deaton C; et al. ESC calls for cultural shift to deal with adverse combination of mental health conditions and cardiovascular disease. European Heart Journal. 2025. Mentioned in ESC-related coverage. Medical Xpress
2025 ESC Clinical Consensus Statement on Mental Health and Cardiovascular Disease — first statement of its kind, emphasizes routine screening, psycho-cardio teams, and integration of mental health into cardiovascular risk assessment. healthmanagement.org
Autor: Helena Barberà