 Rationale: Depression is known to be associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and poorer prognosis after cardiac events, however the mechanisms that mediate these links are poorly understood. Inflammatory and neuroendocrine processes are thought to play an important role in this relationship. In addition, antidepressants have been shown to improve cardiac outcomes and have anti-inflammatory effects, whilst inflammation has been shown to be elevated in patients who do not respond to treatment. Several possible biomarkers for antidepressant resistance have also been demonstrated to be cardiovascular risk markers. These include acute phase inflammatory markers, such as interleukin-6 IL-6, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis HPA dysregulation. 