Study Of Heart Rate Variability In Patients With Generalized Anxiety Disorder And Comorbid Major Depression

Objective: This research is a control study about the effect on heart rate variability in generalized anxiety disorder and comorbid depression.Methods: Our study recruited patients with generalized anxiety disorder(n=30),generalized anxiety disorder comorbid major depression(n=30),major depressive disorder(n=30),as well as healthy controls(n=50).Hamilton anxiety scale / anxiety self-assessment scale and Hamilton depression scale / depression self rating scale is used to assess the severity of anxiety and depression respectively.The time-domain analys is the standard deviation of all RR intervals [SDNN] and the square root of the mean squared differences of successive normal sinus intervals [RMSSD],the frequency-domain analys is low frequency [LF],high frequency [HF],and the ratio of LF and HF [LF/HF].Results: Three patient groups had more anxiety and depression symptoms than control subjects.Variance analysis showed that: SDNN RMSSD and LF/HF between the patient groups had no statistical difference(p>0.05),while LF and HF had significant difference(P < 0.001).Comparison between groups showed: SDNN and RMSSD no statistical difference(p>0.05);Correlation analysis showed that: all the generalized anxiety disorder(including generalized anxiety and generalized anxiety comorbid depression),the higher anxiety and depression scores have lower heart rate variability.LF,HF and LF/HF ratio have the negatively correlated with HAMA and HAMD scoresConclusion:Research shows that: heart rate variability may be one of psychopathology index of generalized anxiety disorder,and associated with the severity of anxiety and depression.The generalized anxiety comorbid major depression may have lower heart rate variability lower(for example,HF_HRV).Taken account of the cardiovascular risk,clinical doctors need to pay more attention for generalized anxiety disorder.