Sleep Med Psychophysiol.  2004 Dec;11(2):100-105.

Autonomic Neurocardiac Function in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: Using a Heart Rate Variability Test Battery

• Park YS
• Lee KJ
• Kim H
• Chung YC

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Major depression is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. One possible explanation for this association is that major depression influences autonomic neurocardiac regulation. However, previous studies on the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and major depression have revealed conflicting results. The purpose of this study is to clarify that major depressive patients compared to healthy controls show a reduction in HRV as an expression of reduced modulation of vagal activity to the heart. METHODS: According to DSM-IV, the time and frequency domain HRV indices (5-min resting study) of 30 patients with major de-pressive disorder were compared with those of 30 healthy controls. Standardized HRV tests enable quantitative estimation of auto-nomic nervous system function. RESULTS: After controlling for age and gender, subjects with major depression showed a higher heart rate and significantly lower modulation of cardiovagal activity compared to controls. The total power (TP) band, very low frequency (VLF: 0.003-0.04 Hz) band, low frequency (LF: 0.04-0.15 Hz) band, and high frequency (HF: 0.15-0.4 Hz) band were significantly reduced in subjects with major depression compared to control subjects. CONCLUSION: Patients with major depression may suffer from functional disturbances in the interaction between the sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic systems.

Keyword

Major depression; Autonomic nervous system; Heart rate variability

MeSH Terms

Autonomic Nervous System
Depression
Depressive Disorder, Major*
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Heart Rate*
Heart*
Humans
Mortality
Nervous System