Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Comorbid Major Depression and Heart Rate Variability: A Case-Control Study in Taiwan

• 발행기관: 대한신경정신의학회
• 저자명: HsinAn Chang ChuanChia Chang NianSheng Tzeng Terry B. J. Kuo RuBand Lu SanYuan Huang
• 간행물 정보: 『Psychiatry Investigation』제10권 제4호, 326~335쪽, 전체 10쪽
• 주제분류: 의약학 > 정신과학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2013.12.31

영문 초록

Objective-Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) has been reported in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), but the results are mixed. Little is known about the impact of comorbid major depression (MD) on HRV in GAD patients. Both issues necessitate further investigation. Methods-Twenty unmedicated, physically healthy GAD patients, 20 GAD patients with a secondary diagnosis of MD, 40 MD patients and 60 matched controls were recruited. We used the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale to assess anxiety and depression severity, respectively. Cardiac autonomic function was evaluated by measuring HRV parameters. Frequencydomain indices of HRV were obtained. Results-Three patient groups had more anxiety and depression symptoms than control subjects, but heart rates (HRs) were significantly elevated only in GAD patients with comorbid depression. Relative to controls, GAD patients had reduced HRV while GAD patients with comorbid depression displayed the greatest reductions in HRV among three patients groups. Correlation analyses revealed anxiety/depression severity significantly associated with HRs, variance, LF-HRV and HF-HRV. However, separately analyzing among individual groups and adjusting for HRV-associated covariables rendered the correlations non-significant. Conclusion-Our results suggest that reduction in HRV is a psychophysiological marker of GAD and individuals with comorbid GAD and MD may be distinguished based on psychophysiological correlates (for example, HF-HRV) from non-comorbid GAD patients. Taken into account that comorbid depression may confer increased risks for cardiovascular events in GAD patients, this subgroup of GAD patients may benefit better from cardiovascular risk reduction strategies.

목차

INTRODUCTION

METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

키워드

Generalized anxiety disorder Major depression Heart rate variability Cardiac autonomic function Vagal control