Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42201036›Full record

ReviewMedical sciences (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Depression and Suicidality in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices and Advanced Cardiac Therapies: Mechanisms, Risk Factors, and Clinical Management.

Vasileios Leivaditis, Francesk Mulita, Chrysa Andrikopoulou, Ejona Shaska, Elias Liolis, Sofoklis Mitsos, Konstantinos Grapatsas, Periklis Tomos, Nikolaos G Baikoussis

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Vasileios LeivaditisDepartment of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Westpfalz Klinikum, 67655 Kaiserslautern, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-8692-0059
Francesk MulitaDepartment of General Surgery, General Hospital of Eastern Achaia-Unit of Aigio, 25100 Aigio, Greece.ORCID 0000-0001-7198-2628
Chrysa AndrikopoulouDepartment of General Surgery, General Hospital of Eastern Achaia-Unit of Aigio, 25100 Aigio, Greece.ORCID 0009-0009-4672-6396
Ejona ShaskaDepartment of Psychiatry, "Ali Mihali" Psychiatric Hospital, 9401 Vlora, Albania.
Elias LiolisDepartment of Oncology, General University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece.
Sofoklis MitsosDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Attikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-0606-7287
Konstantinos GrapatsasDepartment of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Endoscopy, Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Center, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany.
Periklis TomosDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Attikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece.
Nikolaos G BaikoussisDepartment of Cardiac Surgery, Ippokrateio General Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0001-5645-662X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe increasing use of advanced cardiac surgical therapies, particularly left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), has improved survival in patients with end-stage heart failure. However, the psychological burden associated with these therapies-especially depression and suicidality-remains underrecognized.

objectivesThis narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the prevalence, underlying mechanisms, risk factors, screening strategies, and management of depression and suicidality in patients undergoing LVAD implantation and other advanced cardiac surgical interventions.

methodsA structured literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Scopus was conducted for studies published between 2020 and 2025 addressing depression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and psychological distress in LVAD and advanced cardiac therapy populations.

resultsDepression affects approximately 20-42% of patients with advanced heart failure, including those supported with LVADs, while suicidal ideation is reported in up to 12% of LVAD recipients, with higher rates of suicide attempts compared to other chronic disease populations. Risk factors are multifactorial and can be categorized into patient-related, disease-related, device-related, and psychosocial domains. Proposed mechanisms include neurohormonal dysregulation, systemic inflammation, and psychological processes such as loss of autonomy and existential distress. Although validated screening tools and multidisciplinary management strategies are available, their implementation in routine clinical practice remains inconsistent.

conclusionsDepression and suicidality represent significant and complex challenges in patients undergoing advanced cardiac therapies, particularly LVAD support. Systematic mental health screening and integrated, multidisciplinary care models are essential to improve patient outcomes. Future research should focus on longitudinal assessment, standardized suicide risk monitoring, and the development of targeted, evidence-based interventions for this vulnerable population.

Indexed as

DepressionHeart-Assist DevicesHeart FailureSuicideHumansRisk FactorsSuicidal Ideationadvanced heart failurecardiac surgerydepressionleft ventricular assist device (LVAD)mechanical circulatory supportmental healthpsychosocial factorssuicidality

Identifiers

PMID42201036
PMCPMC13214852

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.