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Autonomic modulation in healthy first-degree relatives of patients with major depressive disorder

Sandy Berger1, Steffen Schulz, Christine Kletta

  • 1Pain & Autonomics-Integrative Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Philosophenweg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany.

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
|June 10, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) imbalance is linked to major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, not their first-degree relatives. This suggests autonomic dysfunction in MDD is not primarily genetic.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Autonomic Neuroscience

Background:

  • Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with increased cardiac mortality.
  • Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction is a proposed mechanism in MDD.
  • Heritability of autonomic modulation suggests a potential genetic link.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate autonomic modulation in first-degree relatives of MDD patients.
  • To determine if autonomic imbalances in MDD have a genetic basis.

Main Methods:

  • Included 30 MDD patients, 30 first-degree relatives, and 30 healthy controls.
  • Recorded high-resolution electrocardiogram and beat-to-beat blood pressure at rest.
  • Calculated linear and nonlinear heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) parameters.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in HRV and BRS parameters were found between relatives and controls.
  • Significant differences in some HRV and BRS parameters were observed between MDD patients and controls.
  • Confirmed previous findings of ANS dysfunction in MDD patients.

Conclusions:

  • Autonomic dysfunction is associated with MDD patients, not their first-degree relatives.
  • Findings suggest that the autonomic imbalance in MDD is not primarily due to a genetic background.
  • A genetic predisposition for autonomic dysfunction in major depressive disorder is unlikely.
Abstract

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