Introduction:

The relationship between chronic noncommunicable diseases and mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression, occur in a bidirectional way, that is, the presence of one condition predisposes the development of the other.

Objective:

To investigate, in the literature reviewed, about the aspects related to depressive states in patients with chronic noncommunicable diseases of major impact on public health.

Methods:

Documental research that consisted in the systematic literature review of studies about depressive states and being affected by chronic noncommunicable diseases, published in open access medical journals in Spanish or English and that contribute to the understanding the comorbidity of these conditions.

Conclusions:

Poor diagnosis and control of chronic noncommunicable diseases and depressive states can lead to lack of adherence to treatment, which increases the morbimortality of chronic noncommunicable diseases. Depressive states and chronic noncommunicable diseases share biological mechanisms of immune activity that, in a complex balance, determined by the activation of specific genes, together contribute to the onset of depressive states and aggravation of chronic noncommunicable diseases. It is necessary to have a comprehensive vision at the diagnostic and control levels that allows to decide together the most adequate treatment according to the patient's characteristics, in order to proceed with the opportune and appropriate referral in each case.

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