These cross-sectional findings are consistent with the hypothesis that comprehensive HRV assessment, systematic sleep quality screening, and structured physical activity promotion may be beneficial components of MDD management, pending confirmation from longitudinal interventional studies.
Abstract
Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading contributor to global disability and is increasingly recognised as a significant cardiovascular risk factor mediated through autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation. Methods This cross-sectional comparative study investigated associations between sleep quality, physical activity, and heart rate variability (HRV) including Poincare plot indices (SD1, SD2, SD1/SD2 ratio) in 46 adults with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) confirmed MDD versus 46 non-depressed controls (aged 18–45 years) recruited at the Dr BC Roy Multi-Speciality Medical Research Centre, IIT Kharagpur, India. Results MDD participants demonstrated markedly reduced HRV across all domains: SDNN (39.2 ± 14.8 vs 58.0 ± 18.6 ms), rMSSD (27.4 ± 12.6 vs 46.2 ± 15.4 ms), SD1 (19.4 ± 8.8 vs 32.6 ± 11.2 ms), SD2 (52.2 ± 18.6 vs 77.4 ± 21.8 ms), and high-frequency power (5.36 ± 0.88 vs 6.56 ± 0.80 ln ms²; all p < 0.001). Poor sleep quality (PSQI ≥ 7) was significantly more prevalent in MDD (82.6% vs 47.8%). PSQI scores were independently associated with reduced HRV in multivariable regression, with associations substantially stronger in MDD participants and particularly in females with MDD. Physical inactivity amplified sleep-related HRV decrements. Conclusion These cross-sectional findings are consistent with the hypothesis that comprehensive HRV assessment, systematic sleep quality screening, and structured physical activity promotion may be beneficial components of MDD management, pending confirmation from longitudinal interventional studies.
Objective Alterations in autonomic nervous system activity – measured by heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate (HR) - have been proposed as a relevant biopsychological mechanism in several psychiatric disorders. However, only few studies have examined these parameters in OCD, and evidence from pediatric samples is particularly limited. The aim of this study was to investigate autonomic activity in pediatric OCD. Methods A five minute resting state electrocardiogram was recorded in adolescents with OCD (n = 64) and age- and IQ-matched healthy controls (HC, n = 52). Autonomic activity was compared using the logarithmized root mean square of differences between successive R-R intervals (logRMSSD), the logarithmized high-frequency HRV (logHF-HRV), the percentage of adjacent NN intervals differing from each other by more than 50 ms (pNN50) and HR. Associations with psychotropic medication status and symptom severity were assessed. Results Adolescents with OCD showed lower logRMSSD and higher HR than HC, whereas logHF-HRV and pNN50 did not differ between groups. No associations were found between cardiac measures and OCD symptom severity. Exploratory subgroup analyses suggested lower logHF-HRV and logRMSSD in medicated adolescents with OCD. Conclusions Our findings add to evidence for altered autonomic activity in pediatric OCD, reflected by elevated HR and lower RMSSD. The observed reduction in HRV did not increase with greater symptom severity and appeared most pronounced among medicated adolescents with OCD. Significance The autonomic imbalance observable in adolescents with OCD is common across anxiety disorders and has been linked to cardiovascular risk.
Manuel Burkart, Sophie P. Scheer, Lea L. Backhausen et al.· Clinical Neurophysiology Pra...· 0 citations
Findings indicate MVPA consistent with the U.S. PA Guidelines in sedentary middle-aged adults may decrease depression, HbA1c, and CVD risk and should be a priority amongst providers.
Elizabeth Moxley, S. Henert, Desale Habtezgi et al.· International Journal of Exe...· 0 citations
Although PA level was not significantly associated with overall gut microbial diversity in college students with SD, it was closely associated with the differential distribution of specific functional genera, closely associated with the differential distribution of specific functional genera.
Meihua Su, Jiahui Jin, Fengxun Lin et al.· Frontiers in Microbiology· 0 citations
Background Chronic stress is a major public health issue linked to psychological vulnerability and autonomic dysregulation. While heart rate variability (HRV) is widely recognized as a biomarker of stress adaptability, few studies have characterized the psychophysiological profile of individuals who self-identify as chronically stressed. Understanding this relationship could clarify the integration between subjective perception and autonomic control mechanisms. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 54 adults reporting chronic self-perceived stress for at least 6 months. Psychological assessment included validated Spanish versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II), UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI). HRV was recorded using a Polar H10 sensor in 2 daily 5-min supine measurements (morning and evening) over 7 days. Time, frequency, and nonlinear-domain parameters were analyzed according to the Task Force standards. Results Participants presented high levels of anxiety, depression, and psychological inflexibility, together with moderately reduced HRV indices. No significant differences were found between levels of perceived stress. Higher conscientiousness showed modest positive correlations with SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, and HRV triangular index, while sex differences were observed in frequency-domain HRV parameters. Overall, HRV was not clearly differentiated across perceived stress levels. Conclusion Adults with chronic self-perceived stress exhibit a psychophysiological pattern characterized by emotional vulnerability, cognitive overcontrol, and reduced autonomic flexibility. This state reflects latent regulatory vulnerability rather than an overt autonomic failure. HRV assessment combined with psychological profiling may enhance early identification of individuals at risk and support integrative approaches for stress regulation.
Ana Isabel Pérez Alcalde, María-José Giménez, Cecilia Estrada Barranco et al.· Frontiers in Physiology· 0 citations
BACKGROUND
Sex differences in sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) are well recognized, but whether equivalent disease severity confers similar physiologic and symptomatic burden remains uncertain.
METHODS
Data from a community-based cohort of 826 adults free of major cardiopulmonary and metabolic comorbidity were analyzed. Study participants were classified as having no SDB (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] <5 events/h), mild SDB (5.0-14.9 events/h), or moderate-to-severe SDB (≥15 events/h). Within each stratum, men and women were matched 1:1 on age, race, body mass index, and AHI. Objective polysomnographic measures and subjective assessments of daytime sleepiness, insomnia symptoms, and quality of life were compared using regression models with sex-by-severity interaction terms.
RESULTS
Objective sleep measures were largely similar between sexes in the absence of SDB. With mild SDB, men slept 22.2 min less than women (p = 0.006) and had higher overall and NREM arousal rates (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively). With moderate-to-severe SDB, men had lower sleep efficiency (-8.6%; p < 0.001), longer wake after sleep onset (+22.7 min; p = 0.001), and greater daytime sleepiness (p = 0.06), whereas women had more insomnia symptoms and lower physical and mental quality-of-life scores (both p = 0.001). Across all AHI strata, women had greater N3 sleep (all p < 0.003). Significant sex-by-severity interactions were observed for sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, and daytime sleepiness (all p ≤ 0.006).
CONCLUSION
Comparable levels of SDB severity carry different physiologic and symptomatic consequences in men and women, indicating that assessment should extend beyond AHI alone to include sleep disruption, symptom profile, and functional impact.
MaryKathryn Hurst, R. Aurora, D. Stefanovski et al.· Sleep Medicine· 0 citations
BACKGROUND
Distinguishing suicide attempters from those with only ideation remains a major clinical challenge. This study investigated whether heart rate variability (HRV) reactivity, a marker of autonomic regulation, moderates the relationship between behavioral disinhibition and suicide attempts.
METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 61 inpatients with major depressive episodes, categorized into a Suicide Attempt group (SA, n = 23) and a Suicidal Ideation group (SI, n = 38). HRV was recorded during baseline and Go/No-Go task performance as a stress condition. We calculated HRV reactivity as the change in log-transformed high-frequency (HF) power from baseline to task. Logistic regression and interaction analyses were used to predict attempt status while adjusting for age, sex, and smoking.
RESULTS
The SA group was significantly younger and had more lifetime attempts. Groups did not differ in depression, self-reported impulsivity, or aggression (all p > 0.05). Unadjusted analyses showed the SA group had fewer omission errors (Median: 4.0 vs. 9.0, p = 0.014) and higher resting HRV-HF Power (181.0 vs. 63.5 ms2, p = 0.033) compared to the SI group. However, these differences were attributable to younger age and became non-significant after adjustment. In exploratory interaction analyses, a significant effect emerged between Go/No-Go commission errors and HRV-HF reactivity (β = 0.12, p = 0.022). High commission errors were associated with suicide attempts only when coupled with blunted HRV reactivity.
CONCLUSION
Recent suicide attempt was associated with the coexistence of motor disinhibition and impaired HRV-HF reactivity. These exploratory findings highlight the importance of stress-related physiological reactivity over resting measures for risk stratification, providing preliminary proof-of-concept for differentiating high-risk subgroups.
M. Ercis, O. C. Gürşahbaz, Furkan Durmuş et al.· Journal of Affective Disorde...· 0 citations