Research Paper Title

PsyCoLaus: mental disorders and cardiovascular diseases: spurious association?

Background

Cardio-vascular diseases (CVD), their well established risk factors (CVRF) and mental disorders are common and co-occur more frequently than would be expected by chance.

However, the mechanisms underlying this association are still poorly understood.

The main study questions of PsyCoLaus, the psychiatric arm of CoLaus, are:

• Do mental disorders increase vulnerability to CVRF and CVD?
• Do CVRF and CVD promote the development of mental disorders?
• Do CVRF/ CVD and mental disorders share common pathogenetic processes?

The longitudinal project adds a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to the CoLaus investigation.

A better understanding of the psychological, physiological and behavioural links underlying CVD/ CVRF and mental disorders will result in the development of more specific and efficient strategies of prevention and treatment for both psychiatric and CVD/CVRF, two major elements of burden of disease.

Reference

Preisig, M., Waeber, G., Mooser, V. & Vollenweider, P. (2020) PsyCoLaus: mental disorders and cardiovascular diseases: spurious association? Revue Medicale Suisse. 7(315), pp.2127-2129.