Concordance between anxiety and autonomic nervous system activity in subjects at genetic risk for affective disorder

Correlations between electrodermal and heart rate indices of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and measures of state and trait anxiety were examined in 22 high-risk subjects, who had a parent with bipolar affective disorder, and in controls. Relatively consistent and significant correlations between anxiety and ANS "arousal" at rest and under stress were found in high-risk subjects, but not in controls. Relationships between electrodermal laterality and anxiety, and between electrodermal activity and heart rate, were also observed only in the high-risk group. The data suggest a unique concordance between various manifestations of anxiety in high-risk persons which may effectively increase the salience of stressful events and the sensitization to stress.