Review deals with depression, which frequently occurs in patients with cardiovascular disease. Along with that, cardiovascular complications are frequent cause of the high morbidity and mortality of depressed patients. Several common ethiopathogenic factors can be identified (endocrine changes, immunity alteration, structure of personality, life style). Diagnose of depression in somatically diseased patients may be difficult to set; however, it is necessary to consider it. Some conjoint treatment approaches are possible. For the use in the internal medicine new antidepression drugs with lower affects on the cardiovascular system appear promising. Mutual collaboration in the clinical praxis is highly desirable.

        Key words: depressive illness, cardiovascular disease, epidemiology, ethiopathogenesis, treatment.