查看文章

Depression is associated with an increase in the likelihood of cardiac events; however, studies investigating the relationship between depression and heart rate variability (HRV) have generally focused on patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The objective of the current report is to examine with meta-analysis the impact of depression and antidepressant treatment on HRV in depressed patients without CVD.

Studies comparing 1) HRV in patients with major depressive disorder and healthy control subjects and 2) the HRV of patients with major depressive disorder before and after treatment were considered for meta-analysis.

Meta-analyses were based on 18 articles that met inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 673 depressed participants and 407 healthy comparison participants. Participants with depression had lower HRV (time frequency: Hedges' g = −.301, p < .001 …