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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research
08:42

Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research

Published on: October 22, 2014

Adverse impact of mood on flow-mediated dilation

Denise C Cooper1, Milos S Milic, Joseph R Tafur

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0804, USA. dccooper@ucsd.edu

Psychosomatic Medicine
|January 27, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Negative mood states impair endothelial function, a key factor in cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study links psychological distress to reduced vasodilation, suggesting a mechanism for increased cardiovascular risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Psychoneuroimmunology
  • Endothelial Function Research

Background:

  • Negative mood states are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • The precise mechanisms linking mood to CVD remain unclear.
  • Endothelial dysfunction often precedes CVD development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of mood states on endothelial function.
  • To measure endothelial function using brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD).

Main Methods:

  • Seventy healthy adults completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire.
  • Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was assessed via ultrasound.
  • POMS subscales and total mood disturbance scores were correlated with FMD.

Main Results:

  • Increased total mood disturbance scores correlated with decreased endothelial function (FMD).
  • Mood disturbance explained 10% of the variance in FMD (p < .01).
  • Specific POMS subscales (depression, anxiety, anger, fatigue, confusion) showed inverse correlations with FMD (p < .05).

Conclusions:

  • Mood disturbance may contribute to CVD through impaired vasodilation.
  • Adverse psychological states, even mild ones, may increase cardiovascular risk.
  • Further research into the psychophysiological mechanisms of CVD is warranted.
Abstract

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