Depression and Inflammation

RESIST: What are the biological mechanisms involved in antidepressant resistance that increase cardiovascular risk?

This PhD project investigates the role of depression and inflammation on cardiovascular disease risk.  In particular, the project investigated the mechanisms underlying inflammatory activation in patients who demonstrate antidepressant resistance.  The research involved both experimental laboratory studies as well as secondary statistical analysis of longitudinal datasets.

Publications

Lawes, S, Demakakos, P, Steptoe, A, Lewis, G and Carvalho, L.A. Combined influence of depression and systemic inflammation on cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality:  evidence for differential effects by gender in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

The study was part of Samatha Lawes's PhD project which was funded by a British Heart Foundation studentship grant.

Principal Investigators: Dr Samatha Lawes and Professor Andrew Steptoe

Contact: Professor Andrew Steptoe (a.steptoe@ucl.ac.uk) or Samatha Lawes (samantha.lawes.13@alumni.ucl.ac.uk)