Title Heart Rate Variability during Inpatient Psychosomatic Treatment - A Naturalistic Observational Study.
Author Zimmermann-Viehoff, Frank; Thayer, Julian; Bergt, Juliane; Weber, Cora S; Erdur, Laurence; Richter, Steffen; Deter, Hans-Christian
Journal Z Psychosom Med Psychother Publication Year/Month 2016
PMID 26906210 PMCID -N/A-
Affiliation + expend 1.Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Psychosomatik, ChariteUniversitatsmedizin Berlin,Campus Benjamin Franklin.

OBJECTIVES: We tested the hypothesis that inpatient psychosomatic treatment would improve both psychological distress and autonomic dysfunction, indexed as heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS: 135 patients (mean age 47.2 years, 68.1% women) were enrolled. The most frequent diagnoses were somatoform disorders, adjustment disorders, major depression, eating disorders, and anxiety disorders.Mean duration of treatment was 21.8 +/- 7.3 days. Complete HRV data were available on 105 patients. RESULTS: At the beginning of the treatment, psychological distress correlated with the low frequency/ high frequency ratio of HRV, indicating a shift of autonomic balance towards sympathetic predominance. Following treatment, psychological distress had improved, but parasympathetic activity was even lower. Tricyclic antidepressant use was associated with an increase in heart rate. No other associations between antidepressant use and autonomic function were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Reductions of psychological distress may not be reflected by improved autonomic function. Studies on interventions that may improve both psychological distress and autonomic dysfunction are desirable.

  • Copyright © 2023
    National Institute of Pathogen Biology, CAMS & PUMC, Bejing, China
    All rights reserved.