Decreased cardiac vagal control in drug‐naive patients with panic disorder: A case‐control study in Taiwan. (27th February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chang, Hsin‐An; Chang, Chuan‐Chia; Tzeng, Nian‐Sheng; Kuo, Terry B. J.; Lu, Ru‐Band; Huang, San‐Yuan
• Is Part Of: Asia-Pacific psychiatry. Volume 5:Number 2(2013:Jun.)
• Page Start: 80
• Page End: 89
• Publication Date: 2013-02-27
• Subjects: Psychiatry -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 616.890095
• DOI: 10.1111/appy.12032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-5864

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="appy12032-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Introduction</title> <p>Cardiac autonomic dysregulation has been proposed in panic disorder (PD), but the results are mixed. Analyses with larger sample sizes and better methodology are needed.</p> </sec> <sec id="appy12032-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Forty‐eight drug‐naïve individuals with PD and 202 healthy volunteers were recruited for a case‐control analysis. We used the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and the Beck Anxiety Inventory to assess anxiety severity. Cardiac autonomic function was evaluated by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. Frequency‐domain indices of HRV were obtained. The obtained results were evaluated in association with personality traits assessed by the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire.</p> </sec> <sec id="appy12032-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Patients exhibited reduced mean RR interval (816.94 ± 135.92 versus 873.47 ± 143.36 ms, <italic>P</italic> = 0.014) and HRV levels (Var 6.37 ± 1.32 versus 7.38 ± 0.95, LF 4.90 ± 1.63 versus5.82 ± 1.11 and HF 4.57 ± 1.53 versus 5.62 ± 1.24 [ln(ms2)], all <italic>P</italic> < 0.001) as compared to controls, which mainly suggested a reduction in cardiac vagal control in PD. The anxiety severity was negatively correlated with HRV levels (r = −0.29 for Var, r = −0.22 for LF and r = −0.28 for HF, all <italic>P</italic> < 0.001). The harm avoidance score (which has been suggested to be associated with serotonergic activity) was associated with decreased HRV levels (r = −0.22 for Var, <italic>P</italic> < 0.01, r = −0.14 for LF, <italic>P</italic> < 0.05 and r = −0.17 for HF, <italic>P</italic> < 0.01).</p> </sec> <sec id="appy12032-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Discussion</title> <p>This study demonstrates that PD is associated with cardiac autonomic dysregulation, highlighting the importance of assessing HRV in PD patients.</p> </sec> </abstract>