Associations between symptoms of depression and heart rate variability: An exploratory study. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Borrione, Lucas; Brunoni, Andre R.; Sampaio-Junior, Bernardo; Aparicio, Luana M.; Kemp, Andrew H.; Benseñor, Isabela; Lotufo, Paulo A.; Fraguas, Renerio
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 262(2018)
• Page Start: 482
• Page End: 487
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: MDD major depressive disorder -- CVD cardiovascular disease -- HRV heart rate variability -- tDCS transcranial direct current stimulation -- RMSSD root mean square of the successive differences -- FFT Fast Fourier Transform -- LF low frequency -- HF high frequency -- LF/HF low frequency/high frequency -- HAM-D-17 Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 17-item version -- MADRS Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale -- BDI Beck Depression Inventory -- HR heart rate -- SSRI selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; Depressive symptoms -- Major depressive disorder -- Heart rate -- Melancholic features -- Melancholia -- Cardiovascular disease; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.09.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with decreased heart rate variability (HRV), a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity by many, but not all studies. This inconsistency could be due to the association of HRV with specific depressive symptoms. Here, we investigated the association of HRV parameters with components of depressive symptoms from 120 MDD patients, at baseline of a published trial comparing the effect of sertraline to transcranial direct current stimulation. We used Principal Component Analysis to extract components of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D-17), the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Beck Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology (BDI). We constructed one equation of multiple linear regression for each HRV parameter as the dependent variable, and the components of depressive symptoms of the three scales as the independent ones, adjusted for age and gender. A component of HAM-D-17 predicted LF/HF (low frequency/high frequency) and a component of MADRS predicted LF (low frequency). "Guilt" and "loss of interest/pleasure in activities" were present in the components of both scales, and the MADRS component also included "psychomotor retardation". These results suggest that melancholic features might be relevant for the association between MDD and HRV. Considering multiple comparisons, these results are preliminary. Highlights: Heart rate variability may be related with some, but not all, depressive symptoms. Melancholic symptoms may be essential for the relation with heart rate variability. Studying remission of specific depressive symptoms and heart rate variability is needed.