Erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases and depression: interaction of therapy

Several studies have revealed the intimate associations between erectile dysfunction (ED), ischemic heart disease (IHD) and depression. Whether the physicians should also screen for the other two components when a patient presents with one component of this triad is still an important question to be answered. These three components had been classified as independent medical conditions managed by unrelated medical services. Recently, the potential effect of medications of each condition on the other conditions had gained a lot of interest. The aim of the current review is to discuss the integrative view of association between cardiovascular diseases, erectile dysfunction and depression, and to address the two direction impact of pharmacotherapy for IHD and depression on erectile function.