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Published on: June 5, 2019
Heart rate variability in bipolar mania and schizophrenia
Brook L Henry1, Arpi Minassian, Martin P Paulus
1University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, La Jolla, CA 92103-0851, United States. blhenry@ucsd.edu
Journal of Psychiatric Research
|August 25, 2009
Summary
Bipolar mania is linked to reduced heart rate variability (HRV) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction. These cardiac changes correlate with symptom severity, suggesting illness phase influences HRV in bipolar disorder.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychiatry
- Autonomic Nervous System Research
Background:
- Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction and reduced heart rate variability (HRV) are observed in various psychiatric disorders.
- Characterization of ANS and HRV in bipolar mania is limited.
- This study compares cardiac activity and HRV in manic bipolar (BD), schizophrenia (SCZ), and healthy comparison (HC) subjects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate heart rate variability (HRV) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) function in acutely hospitalized manic bipolar patients.
- To compare HRV and ANS function between manic BD patients, SCZ patients, and healthy controls.
- To explore the relationship between HRV parameters and psychiatric symptom severity in bipolar mania.
Main Methods:
- HRV was assessed using time, frequency, and nonlinear analyses during a 5-minute rest period.
- Participants included 23 manic BD patients, 14 SCZ patients, and 23 HC subjects.
- Psychiatric symptoms were evaluated using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).
Main Results:
- Manic BD patients showed significantly reduced HRV, parasympathetic activity, and cardiac entropy compared to HC subjects.
- SCZ patients exhibited a non-significant trend towards lower HRV and entropy.
- Reduced parasympathetic tone correlated with higher YMRS scores and unusual thought content (BPRS).
- Decreased entropy was associated with increased aggression and diminished personal hygiene (YMRS).
Conclusions:
- Manic bipolar disorder is characterized by decreased HRV, reduced vagal tone, and diminished heart rate complexity.
- Autonomic dysregulation in manic BD is linked to more severe psychiatric symptoms.
- HRV dysfunction in bipolar disorder may be phase-dependent.
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