This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:

To determine the effects of psychological and pharmacological interventions for depression in CAD patients with comorbid depressive disorder. Effectiveness will be evaluated regarding different types of outcomes. Primary outcomes are remission of depression or reduction of depressive symptoms following the intervention, all‐cause and CAD‐related mortality as well as non‐fatal cardiac events or surgery (coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)). Secondary outcomes are effects on cardiac parameters (e.g. heart rate variability, platelet activation), modifiable cardiac risk factors (blood pressure, serum cholesterol levels and smoking), health economics and health‐related quality of life.