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Falk JR, Gollwitzer PM, Oettingen G, Brinkmann K, Gendolla GHE. Depressive symptoms, task choice, and effort: The moderating effect of personal control on cardiac response. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14635. [PMID: 38924154 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Dysphoric individuals perceive mental tasks as more demanding and show increased cardiovascular responses during the performance of easy cognitive tasks. Recent research on action shielding indicates that providing individuals with personal control over their tasks can mitigate the effects of manipulated affective states on cardiovascular responses reflecting effort. We investigated whether the shielding effect of personal choice also applies to the effect of dispositional negative mood on effort. N = 125 university students with high (dysphoric) versus low (nondysphoric) depressive symptoms engaged in an easy cognitive task either by personal choice or external assignment. As expected, dysphoric individuals showed significantly stronger cardiac PEP reactivity during task performance when the task was externally assigned. Most importantly, this dysphoria effect disappeared when participants could ostensibly personally choose their task. Our findings show that the previously observed shielding effect of personal action choice against incidental affective stimulation also applies to dispositional negative affect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna R Falk
- Geneva Motivation Lab, FPSE, Section of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Peter M Gollwitzer
- Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Political and Social Sciences, Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen, Friedrichshafen, Germany
| | - Gabriele Oettingen
- Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Political and Social Sciences, Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen, Friedrichshafen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Brinkmann
- Geneva Motivation Lab, FPSE, Section of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Guido H E Gendolla
- Geneva Motivation Lab, FPSE, Section of Psychology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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2
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Tyra AT, Young DA, Ginty AT. Emotion regulation tendencies and cardiovascular responses to repeated acute psychological stress. Int J Psychophysiol 2023; 194:112261. [PMID: 37914039 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.112261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Poor emotion regulation has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) through maladaptive cardiovascular responses to psychological stress. However, there has been scant research examining the relationship between emotion regulation and habituation of cardiovascular responses to recurrent stress, which may be more directly applicable to the experience of stress in everyday life. The aims of the current study were to examine the associations between emotion regulation tendencies and cardiovascular stress reactivity, as well as habituation of cardiovascular reactivity across repeated stressors. A sample of 453 participants (mean (SD) age = 19.5 (1.3) years; 62 % women) completed a repeated stress paradigm, which consisted of two 10-minute baselines and two identical 4-minute stress tasks, separated by a 10-minute recovery period. Heart rate (HR) was measured continuously; systolic/diastolic blood pressures (SBP/DBP) were measured every 2 min. At the end of the visit, participants completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Results indicate that impulse control difficulties when distressed (a DERS subscale) were significantly associated with blunted SBP, DBP, and HR reactivity to both stressors, as well as impaired HR habituation across the stressors. None of the ERQ subscales (cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression) were found to be associated with cardiovascular stress reactivity or habituation. The outcomes of this study demonstrate a potential underlying physiological pathway through which impulse control difficulties when distressed may contribute to CVD risk. This study also reveals the importance of extending traditional cardiovascular stress reactivity protocols to include multiple exposures of the same stress task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra T Tyra
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
| | - Danielle A Young
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Annie T Ginty
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
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3
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Iffland B, Kley H, Neuner F. Distinct physiological responses to social-evaluative stress in patients with major depressive disorder reporting a history of peer victimization. Biol Psychol 2023; 184:108697. [PMID: 37775029 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Peer victimization is a risk factor for the development of major depressive disorders, but little is known about the mechanisms. This study examined whether peer victimization alters physiological and affective responses to potentially threatening social stimuli. For this purpose, reactions to socially evaluative stimuli of depressive patients and healthy controls with varying histories of peer victimization were compared. In a social conditioning task, we studied heart rate responses to unconditioned socially negative and neutral evaluative video statements, followed by the heart rate reactions to conditioned stimuli, i.e. still images of the faces of the same actors. Diagnosis of depression and peer victimization were both associated with a more pronounced heart rate deceleration in response to unconditioned stimuli, irrespective of valence. The effect of peer victimization was stronger in depressive patients than in healthy controls. However, heart rate responses to the CSs were not related to depression or peer victimization. The results indicate a hypervigilant processing of social stimuli in depressive patients reporting histories of peer victimization. This distinct processing may be associated with inappropriate behavioral and emotional responses to social challenges, putting individuals at risk for depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Iffland
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Postbox 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Hanna Kley
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Postbox 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Frank Neuner
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Postbox 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany
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O'Riordan A, Howard S, Keogh TM, Gallagher S. Type D personality is associated with lower cardiovascular reactivity to stress in women. Psychol Health 2023; 38:1515-1535. [PMID: 35007443 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2021.2025239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examines if Type D personality is (1) associated with cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress in a healthy sample, and (2) has predictive utility for cardiovascular reactivity above its individual subcomponents (negative affect; NA, social inhibition; SI), as well as anxiety and depression. DESIGN Undergraduate students (n = 173) competed a standardised cardiovascular reactivity experimental protocol consisting of resting baseline and stressor phase (mental arithmetic), with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) monitored throughout. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcome measures were cardiovascular reactivity to the stressor, which was operationalised as the difference between resting baseline and the stressor phase for SBP, DBP and HR. RESULTS The continuous Type D interaction term (NA × SI) significantly predicted lower SBP reactivity to the mental arithmetic stressor amongst women, independent of NA, SI and confounding variables. Moreover, this remained significant after adjustment for anxiety and depressive symptoms. Depression, NA and SI were also significant independent predictors of SBP reactivity amongst women. CONCLUSION Type D personality is associated with lower SBP reactivity to acute stress in women, which may be indicative of blunted cardiovascular reactivity. This association was independent of NA, SI, Anxiety and Depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam O'Riordan
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Siobhán Howard
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Tracey M Keogh
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Stephen Gallagher
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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5
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Roché S, Kearns H, Brindle RC. Testing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as a potential moderator of the association between current chronic stress and cardiovascular reactivity. Int J Psychophysiol 2023; 193:112245. [PMID: 37730123 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.112245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Motivated by mixed findings regarding the relationship between chronic stress and cardiovascular reactivity, the current study aimed to investigate whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) serve as a potential moderator of the association between current chronic stress and cardiovascular reactivity. Incidence of ACEs, levels of current chronic stress, and heart rate (HR) reactivity to a mental arithmetic stress task were measured in 111 participants (age = 20.83, 76 % female, 66 % White). ACEs were measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and current chronic stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale. Moderation analyses were conducted with HR reactivity as the outcome and ACEs as the moderator. Results indicated that a greater amount of current chronic stress was significantly associated with relatively blunted HR reactivity (β = -0.25, p = 0.03) even after controlling for sociodemographic variables. Exposure to ACEs was not significantly related to HR reactivity, (all p ≥ 0.66), and there was no significant interaction between current chronic stress and ACE exposure in predicting HR reactivity, (all p ≥ 0.44). These results show that current chronic stress is associated with relatively blunted HR reactivity and that exposure to ACEs does not moderate the relationship between chronic stress and cardiac stress reactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Roché
- Department of Biology, Washington and Lee University, USA
| | - Hannah Kearns
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science, Washington and Lee University, USA
| | - Ryan C Brindle
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science, Neuroscience Program, Washington and Lee University, USA.
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Andorfer A, Kraler S, Kaufmann P, Pollheimer E, Spah C, Fuchshuber J, Rominger C, Traunmüller C, Schwerdtfeger A, Unterrainer HF. Psychophysiological stress response after a 6-week Mindful Self-Compassion training in psychiatric rehabilitation inpatients: a randomized post-test only study. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1098122. [PMID: 37533890 PMCID: PMC10391549 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1098122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Mindfulness-based interventions (including self-compassion interventions) are effective in improving stress management at psychological and physical levels. Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is a newly developed program particularly aimed at increasing self-compassion. The main objective of this study was to determine whether the psychophysiological stress response during a social-evaluative speaking task differs in inpatients participating in the MSC or the Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) program at the end of their 6-week psychiatric rehabilitation stay (i.e., post-test only design). Method Data from 50 inpatients (25 MSC, 25 PMR, 35 female) aged 19 to 76 years (M = 47.22, SD = 12.44) were analyzed in terms of psychophysiological stress response. For this purpose, heart rate variability, heart rate, and blood pressure were assessed together with several psychometric variables: positive and negative affect (PANAS), subjective stress perception (Visual Analog Scale), self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale), cognitive reappraisal and suppression (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire), psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory-18), and appraisal and rumination (selected items). Results After correction for alpha inflation no differences in the psychophysiological stress response and psychometric parameters between the MSC and PMR group were found. Discussion In general, our results indicate that MSC is not superior to PMR training. However, more research with clinical randomized controlled trials investigating larger samples are needed to further affirm these initial findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Andorfer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- CIAR: Center for Integrative Addiction Research, Grüner Kreis Society, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabina Kraler
- Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Paul Kaufmann
- Center for Psychosocial Health, Sonnenpark Neusiedlersee, Rust, Austria
| | - Ewald Pollheimer
- Center for Psychosocial Health, Sonnenpark Neusiedlersee, Rust, Austria
| | - Christoph Spah
- Center for Psychosocial Health, Sonnenpark Neusiedlersee, Rust, Austria
| | - Jürgen Fuchshuber
- CIAR: Center for Integrative Addiction Research, Grüner Kreis Society, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | - Human-Friedrich Unterrainer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- CIAR: Center for Integrative Addiction Research, Grüner Kreis Society, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Religious Studies, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Faculty of Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria
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Dell’Acqua C, Palomba D, Patron E, Messerotti Benvenuti S. Rethinking the risk for depression using the RDoC: A psychophysiological perspective. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1108275. [PMID: 36814670 PMCID: PMC9939768 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1108275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Considering that the classical categorical approach to mental disorders does not allow a clear identification of at-risk conditions, the dimensional approach provided by the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) is useful in the exploration of vulnerability to psychopathology. In the RDoC era, psychophysiological models have an important role in the reconceptualization of mental disorders. Indeed, progress in the study of depression vulnerability has increasingly been informed by psychophysiological models. By adopting an RDoC lens, this narrative review focuses on how psychophysiological models can be used to advance our knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying depression vulnerability. Findings from psychophysiological research that explored multiple RDoC domains in populations at-risk for depression are reviewed and discussed. Future directions for the application of psychophysiological research in reaching a more complete understanding of depression vulnerability and, ultimately, improving clinical utility, are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Dell’Acqua
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy,Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy,*Correspondence: Carola Dell’Acqua, ✉
| | - Daniela Palomba
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy,Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Simone Messerotti Benvenuti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy,Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy,Hospital Psychology Unit, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy
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8
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Rahal D, Alkon A, Shirtcliff E, Gonzales N, Fuligni A, Eskenazi B, Deardorff J. Dampened autonomic nervous system responses to stress and substance use in adolescence. Stress Health 2023; 39:182-196. [PMID: 35700233 PMCID: PMC10894511 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We investigated whether parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) responses to social-evaluative threat at age 14 were related to the number of substances used between ages 14 and 16 among Mexican-origin adolescents (N = 243; 70.4% had never used substances by 14). Participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test, while cardiac measures of parasympathetic and SNS activity were measured continuously using respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and pre-ejection period (PEP), respectively. Participants reported whether they had ever used alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes, and had ever vaped nicotine in their lifetime at ages 14 and 16. Multilevel models were used to test associations between RSA and PEP responses at age 14 and substance use at 16. Among youth who had not used substances by 14, dampened RSA and PEP responses, and profiles of greater coinhibition and lower reciprocal SNS activation between RSA and PEP, at age 14 were associated with using substances by 16. Among youth who used by 14, exaggerated PEP responses were associated with using more substances by age 16. Taken together, dampened autonomic responses to social-evaluative threat predicted initiation of substance use over two years, and difficulties with coordination of physiological responses may confer risk for substance use in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Rahal
- University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Psychology, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Abbey Alkon
- University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Elizabeth Shirtcliff
- Iowa State University, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Ames, IA, 50011
| | - Nancy Gonzales
- Arizona State University, Department of Psychology, Tempe, AZ 85281
| | - Andrew Fuligni
- University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Psychology, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Brenda Eskenazi
- University of California, Berkeley, Community Health Sciences Division, School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA, 94720
| | - Julianna Deardorff
- University of California, Berkeley, Community Health Sciences Division, School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA, 94720
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9
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Huang YH, Huang YT, Yen NS. Interoceptive sensibility differentiates the predictive pattern of emotional reactivity on depression. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1011584. [PMID: 36936002 PMCID: PMC10017445 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1011584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of emotional reactivity in the psychopathology of depression has been studied widely but not comprehensively. Inconsistencies in existing literature indicate the presence of other factors may affect this dynamic. An individual's method of processing their physiological sensations is a third variable because emotions are psychophysiological. This study identified the predictiveness of ease of activation, intensity, and duration of negative and positive emotions on depressive symptoms differentiated by interoceptive sensibility (IS). A total of 270 community participants filled-in questionnaires assessing their IS, habitual emotional reactivity, depressive severity, and response bias. A two-step clustering analysis identified the IS characteristics. Negative and positive reactivity models among each IS cluster were tested using bootstrapping regression, controlling for gender and response bias. IS can be clustered into "high IS," "low IS," and "worriers." Both positive and negative reactivity's predictiveness patterns on depression were different between IS clusters. Lower positive reactivity predicted depression among individuals with low IS (harder to activate positive emotions) and worriers (shorter duration of positive emotions) but not among individuals with high IS. Those with high IS also exhibited the highest positive reactivity. Ease of activating negative emotions predicted depression among high IS individuals, and a longer duration of negative emotions predicted depression among worriers. IS may affect the psychopathology of depression through subjective emotional reactivity. Thus, IS characteristics can be incorporated into intervention plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Hsin Huang
- Department of Psychology, Fo Guang University, Yilan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Huang
- Research Center for Mind, Brain, and Learning, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nai-Shing Yen
- Research Center for Mind, Brain, and Learning, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Nai-Shing Yen,
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10
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Kurinec CA, Stenson AR, Hinson JM, Whitney P, Van Dongen HPA. Electrodermal Activity Is Sensitive to Sleep Deprivation but Does Not Moderate the Effect of Total Sleep Deprivation on Affect. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:885302. [PMID: 35860724 PMCID: PMC9289674 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.885302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Emotion is characterized by dimensions of affective valence and arousal, either or both of which may be altered by sleep loss, thereby contributing to impaired regulatory functioning. Controlled laboratory studies of total sleep deprivation (TSD) generally show alterations in physiological arousal and affective state, but the relationship of affect and emotion with physiological arousal during TSD has not been well characterized. Established methods for examining physiological arousal include electrodermal activity (EDA) measures such as non-specific skin conductance responses (NSSCR) and skin conductance level (SCL). These measures are robust physiological markers of sympathetic arousal and have been linked to changes in experienced emotion. To explore the link between physiological arousal and affect during sleep deprivation, we investigated individuals' EDA under TSD and its relationship to self-reported affect. We also investigated the relationship of EDA to two other measures known to be particularly sensitive to the arousal-decreasing effects of TSD, i.e., self-reported sleepiness and performance on a vigilant attention task. Data were drawn from three previously published laboratory experiments where participants were randomly assigned to either well-rested control (WRC) or 38 h of TSD. In this data set, comprising one of the largest samples ever used in an investigation of TSD and EDA (N = 193 with 74 WRC and 119 TSD), we found the expected impairing effects of TSD on self-reported affect and sleepiness and on vigilant attention. Furthermore, we found that NSSCR, but not SCL, were sensitive to TSD, with significant systematic inter-individual differences. Across individuals, the change in frequency of NSSCR during TSD was not predictive of the effect of TSD on affect, sleepiness, or vigilant attention, nor was it related to these outcomes during the rested baseline. Our findings indicate that while physiological arousal, as measured by EDA, may be useful for assessing TSD-related changes in non-specific arousal at the group level, it is not associated with individuals' self-reported affect at rest nor their change in affect during TSD. This suggests that an essential aspect of the relationship between physiological arousal and self-reported affect is not well captured by EDA as measured by NSSCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney A. Kurinec
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Anthony R. Stenson
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - John M. Hinson
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Paul Whitney
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
| | - Hans P. A. Van Dongen
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
- Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, United States
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11
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Ginty AT, Tyra AT, Young DA, Brindle RC, de Rooij SR, Williams SE. Cardiovascular reactions to acute psychological stress and academic achievement. Psychophysiology 2022; 59:e14064. [PMID: 35353904 PMCID: PMC9541813 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular reactions to acute psychological stress have been associated with cognitive function. However, previous work has assessed cardiovascular reactions and cognitive function in the laboratory at the same time. The present study examined the association between cardiovascular reactions to acute psychological stress in the laboratory and academic performance in final year high school students. Heart rate, blood pressure, stroke volume, and cardiac output reactions to an acute psychological stress task were measured in 131 participants during their final year of high school. Performance on high school A‐levels were obtained the following year. Higher heart rate and cardiac output reactivity were associated with better A‐level performance. These associations were still statistically significant after adjusting for a wide range of potentially confounding variables. The present results are consistent with a body of literature suggesting that higher heart rate reactions to acute psychological stress are associated with better cognitive performance across a variety of domains. The present study is the first to examine the associations between cardiovascular reactions to stress in the laboratory and academic achievement. Additionally, it is the first to examine a more comprehensive hemodynamic profile of cardiovascular reactivity (e.g., cardiac output) with cognitive function. The present results are consistent with a body of literature suggesting that higher heart rate reactions to acute psychological stress are associated with better cognitive performance across a variety of domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie T Ginty
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Alexandra T Tyra
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Danielle A Young
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | - Ryan C Brindle
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science & Neuroscience Program, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, USA
| | - Susanne R de Rooij
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sarah E Williams
- School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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12
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Schiweck C, Gholamrezaei A, Hellyn M, Vaessen T, Vrieze E, Claes S. Exhausted Heart Rate Responses to Repeated Psychological Stress in Women With Major Depressive Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:869608. [PMID: 35509881 PMCID: PMC9058080 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.869608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Past research links depression and blunted cardiac vagal reactivity to chronic stress. Yet, to our knowledge no experiment investigates heart rate (variability) responses to a repeated laboratory stressor in patients with depression. Repeated exposure may provide valuable information on stress reactivity in depression. Fifty-nine women (30 inpatients diagnosed with depression and 29 matched controls) underwent two consecutive runs of a mental arithmetic stress paradigm consisting of one baseline and two exposures to control, stress, and recovery phases of 5 min each, in a case-control design. Subjective stress and electrocardiography were recorded. Variance of heart rate (HR) and root mean square of successive RR interval differences (RMSSD) were analyzed using linear mixed models. Overall, physiological parameters (HR and RMSSD) and subjective stress showed a strong group effect (all p < 0.001). In both groups, subjective stress and HR increased in response to stress, but the subjective stress levels of patients with depression did not return to baseline levels after the first stressor and for the remainder of the experiment (all p < 0.004 compared to baseline). Patients' HR reactivity responded oppositely: while HR recovered after the first stress exposure, no reactivity was observed in response to the second exposure. These findings may suggest that the often-reported blunted HR/HRV response to stressors results from exhaustion rather than an incapacity to react to stress. The altered HR reactivity could indicate allostatic (over-) load in depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Schiweck
- Department for Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,Psychiatry Research Group, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ali Gholamrezaei
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Pain Management Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maxim Hellyn
- Department for Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thomas Vaessen
- Psychiatry Research Group, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elske Vrieze
- Psychiatry Research Group, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,University Psychiatric Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephan Claes
- Psychiatry Research Group, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,University Psychiatric Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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13
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Nelson BW, Sheeber L, Pfeifer JH, Allen NB. Affective and Autonomic Reactivity During Parent-Child Interactions in Depressed and Non-Depressed Mothers and Their Adolescent Offspring. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2021; 49:1513-1526. [PMID: 34142271 PMCID: PMC8483768 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-021-00840-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Depression presents risks that are profound and intergenerational, yet research on the association of depression with the physiological processes that might be associated with impaired mental and physical health has only recently been contextualized within the family environment. Participants in this multi-method case-control study were 180 mother-adolescent dyads (50% mothers with a history of depression treatment and current depressive symptoms). In order to examine the association between maternal depression and affective and autonomic reactivity amongst these mothers and their adolescent offspring we collected self-reported measures of positive and negative affect, as well as measures of cardiovascular and electrodermal autonomic activity, during mother-adolescent interaction tasks. Findings indicated that depressed mothers and their adolescent offspring exhibited greater self-reported negative affect reactivity during a problem-solving interaction and blunted (i.e., low) sympathetic activity as measured via skin conductance level across both interaction tasks. These effects remained significant after controlling for a range of potential covariates, including medication use, sex, age, adolescents own mental health symptoms, and behavior of the other interactant, along with correcting for multiple comparisons. Findings indicate that depressed mothers and their adolescent offspring both exhibit patterns of affect and physiology during interactions that are different from those of non-depressed mothers and their offspring, including increased negative affect reactivity during negative interactions and blunted sympathetic activity across both positive and negative interactions. These findings have potential implications for understanding the role of family processes in the intergenerational transmission of risk for depressive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin W Nelson
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA.
- Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR, USA.
- School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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14
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Whittaker AC, Ginty A, Hughes BM, Steptoe A, Lovallo WR. Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity and Health: Recent Questions and Future Directions. Psychosom Med 2021; 83:756-766. [PMID: 34297004 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE High cardiovascular reactions to psychological stress are associated with the development of hypertension, systemic atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. However, it has become apparent that low biological stress reactivity also may have serious consequences for health, although less is known about the mechanisms of this. The objectives of this narrative review and opinion article are to summarize and consider where we are now in terms of the usefulness of the reactivity hypothesis and reactivity research, given that both ends of the reactivity spectrum seem to be associated with poor health, and to address some of the key criticisms and future challenges for the research area. METHODS This review is authored by the members of a panel discussion held at the American Psychosomatic Society meeting in 2019, which included questions such as the following: How do we measure high and low reactivity? Can high reactivity ever indicate better health? Does low or blunted reactivity simply reflect less effort on task challenges? Where does low reactivity originate from, and what is a low reactor? RESULTS Cardiovascular (and cortisol) stress reactivity are used as a model to demonstrate an increased understanding of the different individual pathways from stress responses to health/disease and show the challenges of how to understand and best use the reconstruction of the long-standing reactivity hypothesis given recent data. CONCLUSIONS This discussion elucidates the gaps in knowledge and key research issues that still remain to be addressed in this field, and that systematic reviews and meta-analyses continue to be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Whittaker
- From the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport (Whittaker), University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience (Ginty), Baylor University, Waco, Texas; School of Psychology (Hughes), National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Institute of Epidemiology & Health (Steptoe), University College London, London, United Kingdom; and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Lovallo), Norman, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and VA Medical Center, Oklahoma
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15
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Shier AJ, Keogh T, Costello AM, Riordan AO, Gallagher S. Eveningness, depression and cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress: A mediation model. Physiol Behav 2021; 240:113550. [PMID: 34371021 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The psychological pathways linking depression to blunted cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) are still being elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to test whether the association between eveningness, a diurnal/sleep-wake preference and CVR would be mediated by depressive symptoms. One hundred and eighty-two healthy young adults completed measures of morningness/eveningness (the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire; MEQ-SA), depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS) and had their blood pressure and heart rate monitored throughout a standardised stress testing protocol. Results indicated that depressive symptoms were negatively associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) but not diastolic blood pressure (DBP) or heart rate (HR) reactions to the stress task. Eveningness was also negatively associated with both SBP and DBP, but not HR. As such, those who reported increased depressive symptomology, and higher scores on eveningness displayed a more blunted cardiovascular response. Furthermore, the latter relationship was mediated by depressive symptoms such that those reporting higher scores on eveningness also reported increased depressive symptomology and this resulted in blunted CVR for SBP. These findings withstood adjustment for several confounding factors including time of testing. In conclusion, the present findings highlight the importance of considering eveningness when looking at the depression-blunted CVR relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Shier
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
| | - Tracey Keogh
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland
| | - Aisling M Costello
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland
| | - Adam O' Riordan
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland
| | - Stephen Gallagher
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland
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16
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Sarlon J, Staniloiu A, Kordon A. Heart Rate Variability Changes in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: Related to Confounding Factors, Not to Symptom Severity? Front Neurosci 2021; 15:675624. [PMID: 34326716 PMCID: PMC8315043 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.675624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to assess the electrophysiological and other influencing factors correlating with symptom severity in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) under three different conditions: baseline, stress exposure, and relaxation following stress exposure. Methods Symptom severity was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) in 89 inpatients (37 women; mean age 51 years) with MDD. Resting heart rate (RHR), heart rate variability (HRV), respiration rate (RR), skin conductance (SC), and skin temperature (ST) were recorded at baseline for 300 s, under stress exposure for 60 s, and under self-induced relaxation for 300 s. Age, nicotine consumption, body mass index, and blood pressure were evaluated as influencing factors. Results The BDI-II mean score was 29.7 points. Disease severity correlated positively with SC elevation under stress exposure and with a higher RR in the relaxed state, but no association was found between HRV and symptom severity. Age and higher blood pressure were both associated with lower HRV and higher RHR. Conclusion The results indicate that, in patients with MDD, changes in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are complex; and the assessment of ANS reactivity to stressors is useful. Elevated blood pressure might be underdiagnosed, although it is already relevant in patients with MDD in their early 50s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Sarlon
- Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, Psychiatric Clinics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Angelica Staniloiu
- Oberbergklinik Hornberg, Hornberg, Germany.,Department of Psychology, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany.,Department of Psychology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andreas Kordon
- Oberbergklinik Hornberg, Hornberg, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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17
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Trier Social Stress Test Elevates Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, and Anxiety, But a Singing Test or Unsolvable Anagrams Only Elevates Heart Rate, among Healthy Young Adults. PSYCH 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/psych3020015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is a psychosocial stressor that effectively stimulates the stress response but is labor and time intensive. Although other psychological stressors are often used experimentally, none are known to comparably elevate stress. Two stressors that may potentially elevate stress are a singing task (ST) and unsolvable anagrams, but there are not enough data to support their effectiveness. In the current experiment, 53 undergraduate males and females (mean age = 21.9 years) were brought into the laboratory, and baseline blood pressure, heart rate, self-rated anxiety, and salivary cortisol were recorded. Then, participants were randomly assigned to one of three stress conditions: TSST (n = 24), ST (n = 14), or an unsolvable anagram task (n = 15). Stress measures were taken again after the stressor and during recovery. The TSST significantly elevated systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and self-rated anxiety from pre-stress levels, replicating its stress-inducing properties. However, the ST and unsolvable anagrams only elevated heart rate, indicating that these methods are not as able to stimulate physiological or psychological stress. Overall, results indicate that out of these three laboratory stressors, the TSST clearly engages the stress response over the ST or unsolvable anagrams.
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18
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Duprey EB, Oshri A, Liu S, Kogan SM, Caughy MO. Physiological Stress Response Reactivity Mediates the Link Between Emotional Abuse and Youth Internalizing Problems. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2021; 52:450-463. [PMID: 32720015 PMCID: PMC7864584 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-020-01033-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Youth who are raised in emotionally abusive families are more likely to have poor mental health outcomes such as depression and anxiety. However, the mechanisms of this association are unclear. The present study utilized a longitudinal sample of low-SES youth (N = 101, MageT1 = 10.24) to examine stress response reactivity (i.e. vagal withdrawal, sympathetic activation, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal [HPA] axis activation) as mediators between emotional abuse and prospective youth internalizing symptoms. Results indicated that blunted HPA reactivity to a laboratory social stress task mediated the association between emotional abuse and youth internalizing symptoms. Emotional abuse was also associated with blunted parasympathetic nervous system activity (i.e. less vagal withdrawal than average). In sum, emotional abuse is a potent risk factor for youth internalizing symptoms, and this link may be mediated via dysregulation in physiological stress response systems. Primary prevention of childhood emotional abuse and secondary prevention programs that target self-regulation skills may reduce rates of youth internalizing symptoms and disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erinn Bernstein Duprey
- Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, 300 Crittenden Boulevard, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
| | - Assaf Oshri
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - Sihong Liu
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - Steven M. Kogan
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
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19
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Duschek S, Bair A, Hoffmann A, Marksteiner J, Montoro CI, Reyes del Paso GA. Cardiovascular Variability and Reactivity in Major Depressive Disorder. J PSYCHOPHYSIOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1027/0269-8803/a000277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. This study investigated cardiovascular variability and stress reactivity in major depressive disorder (MDD). While previous research has documented reduced heart rate variability, knowledge about blood pressure variability in MDD remains scarce. Regarding reactivity, a particular focus was placed on the time courses of the cardiovascular responses, which may provide insight into the autonomic mechanisms underlying the hypo-reactivity expected in MDD. In 76 MDD patients and 71 healthy controls, blood pressure was continuously recorded at rest and during mental stress induced by a 3-min serial subtraction task. Compared to controls, patients exhibited lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate variability, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability. Moreover, smaller stress-related changes in heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and sensitivity of the cardiac baroreflex arose in patients. Cardiovascular parameters did not differ between patients using antidepressants and unmedicated patients. According to time-course analysis, reduced hemodynamic modulations in MDD mainly occurred after 50 s of the stress period. Low heart rate variability in MDD reflects deficient top-down integration of the brain mechanisms allowing flexible autonomic and behavioral control; diminished blood pressure variability is indicative of poor homeostatic capacity with respect to the regulation of blood pressure and organ perfusion. Moreover, blunted cardiovascular reactivity implies poor adjustment of energetic resources to internal and environmental demands and may be a correlate of deficient motivational dynamics characterizing MDD. While cardiovascular hypo-reactivity in MDD may be mediated by baroreflex and adrenergic mechanisms, the fast-acting parasympathetic system may play a subordinate role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Duschek
- UMIT – University of Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Institute of Psychology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Angela Bair
- UMIT – University of Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Institute of Psychology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
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20
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Eres R, Bolton I, Lim M, Lambert G, Lambert E. Cardiovascular responses to social stress elicited by the cyberball task. HEART AND MIND 2021. [DOI: 10.4103/hm.hm_31_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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21
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Ginty AT, Tyra AT, Young DA, John-Henderson NA, Gallagher S, Tsang JAC. State gratitude is associated with lower cardiovascular responses to acute psychological stress: A replication and extension. Int J Psychophysiol 2020; 158:238-247. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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22
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Cardiovascular Reactivity to Acute Mental Stress: THE IMPORTANCE OF TYPE D PERSONALITY, TRAIT ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS AFTER ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROMES. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev 2020; 39:E12-E18. [PMID: 31688512 DOI: 10.1097/hcr.0000000000000457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Links between psychophysiological reactions to stress stimuli and perceived mental distress, including type D personality, anxiety, and depression, are still under debate. The aim of this study was to examine associations between cardiovascular reactivity to social stress and mental distress in patients after acute coronary syndrome. METHODS Patients (n = 116, 86% males, 52 ± 8 yr) with coronary artery disease 2 wk after acute coronary syndrome were evaluated for sociodemographic, clinical characteristics and coronary artery disease risk factors. The Trier Social Stress Test was employed to measure cardiovascular reactions to social stress (systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate). Mental distress assessment included type D personality (Type D Scale), anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and state and trait anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory). RESULTS Multiple linear regression analysis showed associations between type D personality and lower heart rate during Trier Social Stress Test periods of task instruction (β = -.196, P < .04), preparation time (β = -.232, P < .01), and recovery time (β = -.209, P < .029). Higher trait anxiety was linked with lower heart rate during baseline rest (β = -.287, P < .01), task instruction (β = -.286, P < .01), preparation time (β = -.241, P < .01), and recovery period (β = -.209, P < .05). Depressive symptoms were associated with higher systolic blood pressure during baseline rest (β =.187, P < .05), task instruction (β = .306 P < .01), and free speech (β = .264, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Mental distress was associated with cardiovascular stress reactions independent from possible covariates, suggesting dysregulated psychophysiological reactions to acute stress.
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23
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Cross A, Naughton F, Sheffield D. What is the role of stress cardiovascular reactivity in health behaviour change? A systematic review, meta-analysis and research agenda. Psychol Health 2020; 36:1021-1040. [PMID: 32998581 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2020.1825714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The stress reactivity hypothesis posits that the extremes of exaggerated and low or blunted cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) to stress may lead to adverse health outcomes via psychophysiological pathways. A potential indirect pathway between CVR and disease outcomes is through health-related behaviour and behaviour change. However, this is a less well understood pathway. Design: A registered systematic review was undertaken to determine the association between cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) and health behaviour change, as well as identify mediators and moderators. Eight papers that met the inclusion criteria, focused on smoking cessation and weight loss, were identified. Results: Pooling data from studies exploring the prospective relationship between CVR (as systolic blood pressure) and smoking cessation found that exaggerated CVR was associated with smoking relapse (Hedges' g = 0.39, SE = 0.00, 95% CI 0.38 - 0.40, p < .001; I2 = 0%; N = 257) but did not find evidence that CVR responses were associated with changes in weight. In order to advance our understanding of reactivity as a modifiable determinant of health behaviour change, our review recommends exploring the association between CVR and other health behaviours, to determine the influence of blunted reactivity versus low motivational effort identify mediators and moderators and determine the focus of interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainslea Cross
- School of Psychology, University of Derby, Derby, UK
| | - Felix Naughton
- School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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24
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Ginty AT, Hurley PE, Young DA. Diminished cardiovascular stress reactivity is associated with higher levels of behavioral disengagement. Biol Psychol 2020; 155:107933. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2020.107933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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25
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Bair A, Marksteiner J, Falch R, Ettinger U, Reyes Del Paso GA, Duschek S. Features of autonomic cardiovascular control during cognition in major depressive disorder. Psychophysiology 2020; 58:e13628. [PMID: 32621782 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Previous research has suggested reduced parasympathetic cardiac regulation during cognitive activity in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, little is known about possible abnormalities in sympathetic control and cardiovascular reactivity. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of autonomic cardiovascular control in the context of executive functions in MDD. Thirty six MDD patients and 39 healthy controls participated. Parameters of sympathetic (pre-ejection period, PEP) and parasympathetic control (high and low frequency heart rate variability, HF HRV, LF HRV; and baroreflex sensitivity, BRS) as well as RR interval were obtained at rest and during performance of executive function tasks (number-letter task, n-back task, continuous performance test, and Stroop task). Patients, as compared to controls, exhibited lower HF HRV and LF HRV during task execution and smaller shortenings in PEP and RR interval between baseline and tasks. They displayed longer reaction times during all conditions of the tasks and more omission errors and false alarms on the continuous performance test. In the total sample, on-task HF HRV, LF HRV and BRS, and reactivity in HF HRV, LF HRV, and PEP, were positively associated with task performance. As performance reduction arose independent of executive function load of the tasks, the behavioral results reflect impairments in attention and processing speed rather than executive dysfunctions in MDD. Abnormalities in cardiovascular control during cognition in MDD appear to involve both divisions of the autonomic nervous system. Low tonic parasympathetic control and blunted sympathetic reactivity imply reduced physiological adjustment resources and, by extension, provide suboptimal conditions for cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Bair
- Institute of Psychology, UMIT - University of Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Josef Marksteiner
- Department of Psychiatry, County Hospital of Hall in Tirol, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Reingard Falch
- Department of Psychiatry, County Hospital of Hall in Tirol, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | | | | | - Stefan Duschek
- Institute of Psychology, UMIT - University of Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
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26
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Bair A, Reyes Del Paso GA, Duschek S. Parasympathetic cardiac control and attentional focus in trait worry. Int J Psychophysiol 2020; 162:181-189. [PMID: 32437724 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Trait worry refers to a tendency toward increased vigilance to threat and reduced tolerance of uncertainty. While it has been established as a risk factor of general morbidity, knowledge about autonomic regulation in trait worry remains scarce. This study investigated parasympathetic cardiac control in trait worry, in the context of attentional focus. Healthy groups with high and low worry were selected using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (n = 40 per group). Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded in the high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) bands while participants performed a breathing focus task. The task included a phase of instructed worry and two phases during which participants´ ability to concentrate on their breathing was assessed. As compared to the low worry group, the high worry group exhibited lower HRV in the LF band during both breathing focus phases and smaller reduction of LF HRV during instructed worry. HF HRV did not differ between groups. High worry was associated with impaired ability to concentrate on breathing and more intrusive thoughts. In the total sample, negative intrusions correlated negatively with LF HRV during the first breathing focus phase and LF HRV reactivity. Instructed worry led to greater perceived stress and deterioration of mood in high worry participants. Reduced LF HRV reflects blunted parasympathetic cardiac control in trait worry, associated with elevated risk of poor health outcomes. In addition, it might represent a psychophysiological correlate of reduced cognitive inhibition, which interferes with attentional focus and impedes control of threat processing and perseverative thinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Bair
- UMIT - University of Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Institute of Psychology, Hall in Tirol, Austria.
| | | | - Stefan Duschek
- UMIT - University of Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Institute of Psychology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
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27
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Loeb EL, Davis AA, Narr RK, Uchino BN, Kent de Grey RG, Allen JP. The developmental precursors of blunted cardiovascular responses to stress. Dev Psychobiol 2020; 63:247-261. [PMID: 32419144 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Blunted cardiovascular responses to stress have been associated with both mental and physical health concerns. This multi-method, longitudinal study examined the role of chronic social-developmental stress from adolescence onward as a precursor to these blunted stress responses. Using a diverse community sample of 184 adolescents followed from age 13 to 29 along with friends and romantic partners, this study found that high levels of parental psychological control at age 13 directly predicted a blunted heart rate response and indirectly predicted blunted respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) reactivity under stress. Heart rate effects were mediated via indicators of a developing passive response style, including observational measures of withdrawal during conflict with friends and romantic partners, social disengagement, and coping with stressors by using denial. RSA effects were mediated via withdrawal during conflict with romantic partners and coping by using denial. The current findings are interpreted as suggesting a mechanism by which a key social/developmental stressor in adolescence may alter relational and ultimately physiological patterns of stress responding into adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily L Loeb
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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28
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Hase A, aan het Rot M, de Miranda Azevedo R, Freeman P. Threat-related motivational disengagement: Integrating blunted cardiovascular reactivity to stress into the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat. ANXIETY STRESS AND COPING 2020; 33:355-369. [DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2020.1755819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Hase
- Faculty Branch in Poznan, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poznań, Poland
| | - Marije aan het Rot
- Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Paul Freeman
- School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
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29
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Griffin SM, Howard S. Establishing the validity of a novel passive stress task. Psychophysiology 2020; 57:e13555. [PMID: 32108366 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Laboratory tasks used to elicit a cardiovascular stress response in the laboratory can involve either active or passive coping. However, in previous work, passive stress tasks often incorporate a distinct physical stress element, such as the handgrip or cold pressor task, meaning observed changes in cardiovascular parameters may be the result of the physical element of the stressor rather than truly reflecting psychological stress. The present study aimed to establish the validity of a psychological passive stressor; one more analogous to active tasks than those previously employed in laboratory studies. Twenty-six young, healthy adults completed a speech task in the laboratory following a resting baseline period. Twelve months later, they were invited back to the laboratory and watched the video recording of their speech. Analyses confirmed that while both tasks elicited significant SBP and DBP change (all ps < .001), only the active task was associated with HR and CO reactivity (both ps < .001), while only the passive task was associated with TPR reactivity (p = .028). Furthermore, the passive stressor was associated with a mixed hemodynamic profile, whereas the active stressor was associated with a clear myocardial profile. This study confirms that watching a video recording of oneself complete a speech task is associated with a more vascular response profile, a response associated with passive coping contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siobhán M Griffin
- SASHLab, Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.,Centre for Social Issues Research, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.,Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Siobhán Howard
- SASHLab, Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.,Centre for Social Issues Research, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.,Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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Gecaite J, Burkauskas J, Bunevicius A, Brozaitiene J, Kazukauskiene N, Mickuviene N. The association of cardiovascular reactivity during the Trier Social Stress Test with quality of life in coronary artery disease patients. J Psychosom Res 2019; 126:109824. [PMID: 31522009 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Knowledge of objective psychophysiological stress parameters and its relationship to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is limited in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim was to investigate the association of cardiovascular reaction to psychosocial stress with HRQoL in patients with CAD. METHODS One-hundred and thirty-six patients (84.6% men, age 52 ± 8) within 2-3 weeks after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) during cardiac rehabilitation were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Patients were evaluated for HRQoL (SF-36 questionnaire), symptoms of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale) and Type D personality (DS14 scale). Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) was employed to evaluate cardiovascular reactivity (systolic and diastolic blood pressure [BP], and heart rate [HR]) to psychosocial stress. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to test for the associations between cardiovascular reactivity and HRQoL, while controlling for possible confounders. RESULTS After controlling for baseline levels of HR, gender, age, NYHA functional class, AH, Type D personality, symptoms of anxiety and depression, use of beta-blockers, and history of smoking, the SF-36 Social functioning scale (β = -0.182; p = .03) and SF-36 Vitality scale (β = -0.203; p = .03) was associated with prolonged HR recovery following stress evoking tasks. No associations were found between HRQoL and BP measures during the TSST. CONCLUSION In CAD patients who have experienced ACS, HRQoL was associated with prolonged HR recovery after mental stress, even after controlling for potential confounder. Future studies should investigate the possible role of mediating factors involved in the mechanisms relating cardiovascular stress response and HRQoL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julija Gecaite
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vyduno al. 4, LT-00135 Palanga, Lithuania.
| | - Julius Burkauskas
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vyduno al. 4, LT-00135 Palanga, Lithuania.
| | - Adomas Bunevicius
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vyduno al. 4, LT-00135 Palanga, Lithuania.
| | - Julija Brozaitiene
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vyduno al. 4, LT-00135 Palanga, Lithuania.
| | - Nijole Kazukauskiene
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vyduno al. 4, LT-00135 Palanga, Lithuania.
| | - Narseta Mickuviene
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vyduno al. 4, LT-00135 Palanga, Lithuania.
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A Structural Examination of Negative Emotion Vulnerability. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-019-09761-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Lesnewich LM, Conway FN, Buckman JF, Brush CJ, Ehmann PJ, Eddie D, Olson RL, Alderman BL, Bates ME. Associations of depression severity with heart rate and heart rate variability in young adults across normative and clinical populations. Int J Psychophysiol 2019; 142:57-65. [PMID: 31195066 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Limitations of current depression treatments may arise from a lack of knowledge about unique psychophysiological processes that contribute to depression across the full range of presentations. This study examined how individual variations in heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) are related to depressive symptoms across normative and clinical populations in 152 young adults (aged 18-35 years). Moderating effects of sex and antidepressant medication status were considered. Electrocardiogram data were collected during "vanilla" baseline and in response to positive and negative emotional cues. Linear regressions and repeated-measures mixed models were used to assess the relationships between Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores, sex, antidepressant use, and cardiovascular outcomes. Baseline models yielded significant main effects of BDI-II and sex on HR and significant interactions between antidepressant medication status and BDI-II on HRV outcomes. The main effects of BDI-II and sex on HR were no longer significant after controlling for cardiorespiratory fitness. Participants who denied current antidepressant use (n = 137) exhibited a negative association and participants who endorsed current antidepressant (n = 15) use exhibited a positive association between BDI-II scores and HRV. Emotional reactivity models were largely non-significant with the exception of a significant main effect of antidepressant medication status on high-frequency HRV reactivity. Results indicated antidepressant medication use may moderate the relationship between depression severity and cardiovascular functioning, but this requires replication given the modest proportion of medicated individuals in this study. Overall, findings suggest cardiovascular processes and cardiorespiratory fitness are linked to depression symptomatology and may be important to consider in depression treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Lesnewich
- Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 607 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Fiona N Conway
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, 1925 San Jacinto Boulevard, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Jennifer F Buckman
- Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 607 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 70 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
| | - Christopher J Brush
- Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 70 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
| | - Peter J Ehmann
- Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 70 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
| | - David Eddie
- Recovery Research Institute, Center for Addiction Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 151 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
| | - Ryan L Olson
- Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion, and Recreation, University of North Texas, 1921 Chestnut Street, Denton, TX 76203, USA.
| | - Brandon L Alderman
- Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 70 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
| | - Marsha E Bates
- Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 607 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 70 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
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González JL, Alonso-Fernández M, Matías-Pompa B, Carretero I, Nieto-Bona MP, López-López A. Cardiovascular Responses of Women with Fibromyalgia to a Laboratory Stressor: Does Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Comorbidity Matter? PAIN MEDICINE 2019; 20:988-999. [PMID: 30476240 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pny210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study compared cardiovascular responses to a laboratory trauma-unrelated stressor of two groups of women diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FM), one of them with comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with a group of healthy controls in order to detect the possible existence of differences linked to comorbidity. DESIGN Case-controls. METHODS Eighteen women diagnosed with FM and comorbid PTSD, 18 women diagnosed with FM and no PTSD, and 38 healthy women were exposed to an arithmetic task with harassment while blood pressure and heart rate were measured during task exposure and recovery. RESULTS Although heart rate response evidenced a general blunted reactivity for both groups of FM patients, only those with comorbid PTSD presented lower levels of reactivity in terms of their systolic blood pressure response. In addition, systolic blood pressure response was sensitive to the presence of depression in both groups of FM patients and controls. Finally, although both groups of FM patients showed significantly slower rates of recovery, their final recovery state was not worse after twelve minutes of recording. CONCLUSIONS Results of this study point to comorbid PTSD as a significant contributor to the blunted cardiovascular reactivity observed in FM patients, which may be dependent to a great extent on depressive symptomatology. As some degree of cardiovascular response to stress is functional in that it mobilizes energy and triggers the necessary compensatory mechanisms to manage stressors, this study supports the well-recognized clinical strategies of detection and treatment of PTSD and concomitant depression in the management of FM.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Luis González
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Psychology, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, King Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miriam Alonso-Fernández
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Psychology, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, King Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Borja Matías-Pompa
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Psychology, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, King Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Carretero
- Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, San Pablo CEU University, King Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ma Paz Nieto-Bona
- Department of Basic Health Sciences, King Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Almudena López-López
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Psychology, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, King Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
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Soye A, O'Súilleabháin PS. Facets of openness to experience are associated with cardiovascular reactivity and adaptation across both active and passive stress exposures. Int J Psychophysiol 2019; 140:26-32. [PMID: 30946867 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2019.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Research suggests the personality trait of Openness to Experience is associated with cardiovascular stress processes. It is unknown if the underlying facets of Openness are associated with cardiovascular responsivity, and whether adaptation is evident across active and passive stress. The objective of this study was to determine if the facets of Openness are related to cardiovascular reactivity and adaptation across active and passive stress exposures. Personality measures and continuous cardiovascular data from sixty-six female adults across a protocol of active and passive stress tasks were collated. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the facet of Feelings was associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) reactivity to active stress. Examination of cardiovascular adaption revealed that the facet of Feelings was positively associated with SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) adaptation, whereas the facet of Actions demonstrated a negative association. Supplementary analyses revealed the significant effects for Feelings were not reliant on the remaining Openness facets, whereas the significant effects for Actions were. No significant effects emerged for the higher-order trait of Openness. These findings suggest that the underlying facet of Feelings is associated with active stress reactivity, with the facets of Feelings and Actions appearing to be of importance to cardiovascular adaptation. This study is the first to demonstrate personality effects on cardiovascular adaptation across active and passive stress. Attending to the facets of personality traits may provide a more precise understanding of the personality effects on cardiovascular stress psychophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Soye
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Páraic S O'Súilleabháin
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
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35
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John-Henderson NA, Counts CJ, Sanders CS, Ginty AT. Diminished cardiovascular stress reactivity is associated with lower levels of social participation. J Psychosom Res 2019; 118:12-16. [PMID: 30782348 PMCID: PMC6383777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Diminished cardiac reactions to acute psychological stress are associated with adverse behavioral and health-relevant outcomes. It has been proposed that diminished cardiac reactivity may be a marker for deficits in motivational functioning both at the biological and behavioral levels. Social participation reflects the frequency with which individuals participate in social events and has motivational components. As such, it is a distinct construct from other constructs such as social integration, which measures the number of social roles an individual has. Additionally, lower levels of social participation and diminished reactivity have been associated with similar adverse health outcomes. Therefore, it is possible that diminished cardiac reactivity is associated with lower levels of social participation. We aimed to examine whether diminished cardiovascular reactivity in response to an acute lab stressor was associated with reported social participation. The analyses were conducted using publicly available data from the Pittsburgh Cold Study 3 (PCS3). The PCS3 was a prospective viral-challenge study, which included participants completing an in-lab social evaluative stressor (N = 202, Age = M = 29.71, SD = 10.66) and measuring cardiovascular responses at baseline and in response to the stressor. Separate regression analyses for each cardiovascular variable (SBP, DBP, MAP, and HR) demonstrated that lower cardiovascular reactivity was associated with less social participation. These associations were still evident following adjustment for respective baseline cardiovascular levels, age, sex, race, depressive symptomology, body mass index, socioeconomic status, smoking status, and levels of social integration (R2 changes: ≥ 0.017; ps ≤ 0.02) The findings provide initial evidence that blunted cardiac reactivity may be a precursor to low levels of social participation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cory J Counts
- Department of Psychology, Montana State University, United States
| | | | - Annie T Ginty
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Baylor University, United States
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36
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Distinct effects of early-life experience and trait aggression on cardiovascular reactivity and recovery. Physiol Behav 2019; 199:375-385. [PMID: 30529343 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated independent effects of early-life experience (ELE) and trait aggression (TA) on resting heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in rats. The present study examined the effects of TA and ELE on stress-evoked cardiovascular reactivity and recovery. Pups born to Wistar-Kyoto dams were exposed to daily 180-min periods of maternal separation (MS) during the first two weeks of life, and aggression was assessed in adult offspring using the resident-intruder test. Radiotelemetry was then used to record stress-evoked HR and MAP responses in response to: strobe light, novel environment, intruder rat, or restraint. Maximal HR and MAP responses were quantified as indices of reactivity, and exponential decay curves were fitted to determine decay constants as a measure of recovery. Strobe light was the weakest stressor, evoking the lowest increases in MAP and HR, which were significantly greater in MS-exposed rats irrespective of TA. In contrast, reactivity to and recovery from exposure to a novel environment or an intruder were significantly influenced by TA, but not ELE. TA animals exhibited greater reactivity in both of these paradigms, with either decreased (novel environment) or increased (intruder) recovery. Restraint stress induced the largest changes in HR and MAP with the slowest recovery, and these responses were shaped by a significant ELE x TA interaction. These data indicate that cardiovascular reactivity and recovery are influenced by ELE, TA, or ELE x TA interaction depending on stressor aversiveness as well as its physical and psychological dimensions.
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37
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Schiweck C, Piette D, Berckmans D, Claes S, Vrieze E. Heart rate and high frequency heart rate variability during stress as biomarker for clinical depression. A systematic review. Psychol Med 2019; 49:200-211. [PMID: 30134999 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291718001988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The interaction of physical and mental vulnerability and environmental constraints is thought to foster the development of psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD). A central factor in the development of psychopathology is mental stress. Despite some evidence for parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic overactivity in MDD, the psychophysiological response to stress in depression is not clear-cut. Given the growing interest in heart rate and heart rate variability as indicators for remote monitoring of patients, it is important to understand how patients with MDD react to stress in a laboratory-controlled environment. We conducted a systematic review of studies using electrocardiography to derive heart rate and heart rate variability during stress in patients with clinical depression. We focused on well-validated stress tasks- the mental arithmetic stress task, the Trier social stress task and public speaking task- to minimize confounding effects due to the nature of the stressor. The majority of studies found hypo-reactivity during stress as a hallmark of depression as evidenced by lower fluctuation in heart rate and heart rate variability in the high-frequency band. We address the potential underlying biological mechanisms, the influence of covariates on these measures and briefly discuss the specificity and potential for remote monitoring by using these variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Schiweck
- Department of Neurosciences,Psychiatry Research Group, University of Leuven,Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven,Belgium
| | - Deborah Piette
- M3-BIORES, Division Animal and Human Health Engineering,Department of Biosystems,KU Leuven,Kasteelpark Arenberg 30,3001 Heverlee,Belgium
| | - Daniel Berckmans
- M3-BIORES, Division Animal and Human Health Engineering,Department of Biosystems,KU Leuven,Kasteelpark Arenberg 30,3001 Heverlee,Belgium
| | - Stephan Claes
- Department of Neurosciences,Psychiatry Research Group, University of Leuven,Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven,Belgium
| | - Elske Vrieze
- Department of Neurosciences,Psychiatry Research Group, University of Leuven,Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven,Belgium
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38
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Physiological linkage to an interaction partner is negatively associated with stability in sympathetic nervous system responding. Biol Psychol 2018; 138:91-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2018.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Grinberg AM, O'Hara KL, Sbarra DA. Preliminary evidence of attenuated blood pressure reactivity to acute stress in adults following a recent marital separation. Psychol Health 2017; 33:430-444. [PMID: 28880686 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2017.1373111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study explores cardiovascular reactivity during an acute-stress task in a sample of recently separated adults. DESIGN In a cross-sectional design, we examined the association between adults' subjective separation-related distress and changes in heart rate and blood pressure across the acute-stress laboratory paradigm in a sample of 133 (n = 49 men) recently separated adults. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Heart rate (HR) and Blood pressure (BP) were recorded across a resting baseline period, a math stressor task, and a recovery period. RESULTS Multilevel analyses revealed that adults who reported greater separation-related distress exhibited higher initial BP and a slower linear increase in BP across the study period. In addition, adults reporting greater separation-related distress evidenced significantly slower declines in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) following the acute-stress task. HR reactivity was not moderated by separation-related distress. CONCLUSIONS In recently separated adults, preliminary evidence suggests that the context of the stressors may reveal differential patterns of problematic reactivity (exaggerated or blunted responding). Greater emotional intrusion and hyperactivity symptoms may index increased risk for blunted cardiovascular reactivity to general stressors. This pattern of reactivity is consistent with models of allostatic load that emphasise the deleterious effect of hyporesponsivity to environmental demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin M Grinberg
- a Department of Psychology , University of Arizona , Tucson , AZ , USA
| | - Karey L O'Hara
- a Department of Psychology , University of Arizona , Tucson , AZ , USA
| | - David A Sbarra
- a Department of Psychology , University of Arizona , Tucson , AZ , USA
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40
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Carroll D, Ginty AT, Whittaker AC, Lovallo WR, de Rooij SR. The behavioural, cognitive, and neural corollaries of blunted cardiovascular and cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 77:74-86. [PMID: 28254428 PMCID: PMC6741350 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Recent research shows that blunted cardiovascular and cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress are associated with adverse behavioural and health outcomes: depression, obesity, bulimia, and addictions. These outcomes may reflect suboptimal functioning of the brain's fronto-limbic systems that are needed to regulate motivated behaviour in the face of challenge. In support of this, brain imaging data demonstrate fronto-limbic hypoactivation during acute stress exposure. Those demonstrating blunted reactions also show impairments of motivation, including lower cognitive ability, more rapid cognitive decline, and poorer performance on motivation-dependent tests of lung function. Persons exhibiting blunted stress reactivity display well established temperament characteristics, including neuroticism and impulsivity, characteristic of various behavioural disorders. Notably, the outcomes related to blunted stress reactivity are similar to those that define Reward Deficiency Syndrome. Accordingly, some individuals may be characterised by a broad failure in cardiovascular and cortisol responding to both stress and reward, reflecting fronto-limbic dysregulation. Finally, we proffer a model of blunted stress reactivity, its antecedents and sequelae, and identify future research priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Carroll
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Annie T Ginty
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Anna C Whittaker
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
| | - William R Lovallo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Susanne R de Rooij
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Ahles JJ, Mezulis AH, Crowell SE. Pre-ejection period reactivity to reward is associated with anhedonic symptoms of depression among adolescents. Dev Psychobiol 2017; 59:535-542. [PMID: 28407206 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Pre-ejection period (PEP) reactivity to reward has been posited as a specific index of behavioral approach and incentive motivation, suggesting it might be uniquely associated with the affective and motivational deficits of anhedonia. This study evaluated PEP reactivity to a reward task as a predictor of depressive symptoms among adolescents, examining global depressive symptoms as well as specific anhedonic and nonanhedonic symptoms clusters. Participants included 76 adolescents, ages 11-15 years (52% female). This study found marginal support for an association between PEP reactivity to reward and concurrent anhedonia symptoms, but no association with nonanhedonic or the global scale. Findings are discussed in terms of potential associations between peripheral psychophysiological measures and dopaminergic functioning and also the utility of this measure for future research on anhedonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J Ahles
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington
| | - Amy H Mezulis
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington
| | - Sheila E Crowell
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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42
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Yuenyongchaiwat K, Sheffield D. Blunted cardiovascular reactions are a predictor of negative health outcomes: A prospective cohort study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jabr.12091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kornanong Yuenyongchaiwat
- Physiotherapy Department; Faculty of Allied Health Sciences; Thammasat University; Khlong Luang Pathum Thani Thailand
| | - David Sheffield
- Centre for Psychological Research; University of Derby; Derby UK
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43
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Exploring the possible mechanisms of blunted cardiac reactivity to acute psychological stress. Int J Psychophysiol 2017; 113:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2016.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Yuenyongchaiwat K, Baker IS, Sheffield D. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are related to cardiovascular responses to active, but not passive, coping tasks. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 39:110-117. [PMID: 27828668 PMCID: PMC7111443 DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2016-1935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Anxiety and depression have been linked to blunted blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) reactions to mental stress tests; however, most studies have not included indices of underlying hemodynamics nor multiple stress tasks. This study sought to examine the relationships of anxiety and depression with hemodynamic responses to acute active and passive coping tasks. Methods: A total of 104 participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales and mental arithmetic, speech, and cold pressor tasks while BP, HR, total peripheral resistance, and cardiac output (CO) were assessed. Results: After adjustment for traditional risk factors and baseline cardiovascular activity, depression scores were negatively associated with systolic BP, HR, and CO responses to the mental arithmetic task, while anxiety scores were inversely related to the systolic BP response to mental arithmetic. Conclusion: High anxiety or depression scores appear to be associated with blunted cardiac reactions to mental arithmetic (an active coping task), but not to the cold pressor test or speech tasks. Future research should further examine potential mechanisms and longitudinal pathways relating depression and anxiety to cardiovascular reactivity. Clinical trial registration number: TCTR20160208004
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ian S Baker
- Centre for Psychological Research, Faculty of Education, Health and Sciences, University of Derby, United Kingdom
| | - David Sheffield
- Centre for Psychological Research, Faculty of Education, Health and Sciences, University of Derby, United Kingdom
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Hamilton JL, Alloy LB. Atypical reactivity of heart rate variability to stress and depression across development: Systematic review of the literature and directions for future research. Clin Psychol Rev 2016; 50:67-79. [PMID: 27697746 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2016.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Heart rate variability has received growing attention in the depression literature, with several recent meta-analyses indicating that lower resting heart rate variability is associated with depression. However, the role of fluctuations in heart rate variability (or reactivity) in response to stress in depression remains less clear. The present review provides a systematic examination of the literature on heart rate variability reactivity to a laboratory-induced stressor task and depression, including 26 studies of reactivity in heart rate variability and clinical depression, remitted (or history of) depression, and subthreshold depression (or symptom-level depression) among adults, adolescents, and children. In addition to reviewing the findings of these studies, methodological considerations and conceptual gaps in the literature are addressed. We conclude by highlighting the importance of investigating the potential transactional relationship between heart rate variability reactivity and depression and possible mechanisms underlying this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Hamilton
- Temple University, Department of Psychology, 1701 N. 13th St., Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States.
| | - Lauren B Alloy
- Temple University, Department of Psychology, 1701 N. 13th St., Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
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Silvia PJ, Mironovová Z, McHone AN, Sperry SH, Harper KL, Kwapil TR, Eddington KM. Do depressive symptoms "blunt" effort? An analysis of cardiac engagement and withdrawal for an increasingly difficult task. Biol Psychol 2016; 118:52-60. [PMID: 27174723 PMCID: PMC4956535 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2016.04.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Research on depression and effort has suggested "depressive blunting"-lower cardiovascular reactivity in response to challenges and stressors. Many studies, however, find null effects or higher reactivity. The present research draws upon motivational intensity theory, a broad model of effort that predicts cases in which depressive symptoms should increase or decrease effort. Because depressive symptoms can influence task-difficulty appraisals-people see tasks as subjectively harder-people high in depressive symptoms should engage higher effort at objectively easier levels of difficulty but also quit sooner. A sample of adults completed a mental effort challenge with four levels of difficulty, from very easy to difficult-but-feasible. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the CESD and DASS; effort-related cardiac activity was assessed via markers of contractility (e.g., the cardiac pre-ejection period [PEP]) obtained with impedance cardiography. The findings supported the theory's predictions. When the task was relatively easier, people high in depressive symptoms showed higher contractility (shorter PEP), consistent with greater effort. When the task was relatively harder, people high in depressive symptoms showed diminished contractility, consistent with quitting. The results suggest that past research has been observing a small part of a larger trajectory of trying and quitting, and they illustrate the value of a theoretically grounded analysis of depressive symptoms and effort-related cardiac activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Silvia
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States.
| | - Zuzana Mironovová
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States
| | - Ashley N McHone
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States
| | - Sarah H Sperry
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States
| | - Kelly L Harper
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States
| | - Thomas R Kwapil
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States
| | - Kari M Eddington
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States
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Cardiac Vagal Control and Depressive Symptoms in Response to Negative Emotional Stress. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/5584_2016_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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LeBlanc NJ, Unger LD, McNally RJ. Emotional and physiological reactivity in Complicated Grief. J Affect Disord 2016; 194:98-104. [PMID: 26803781 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2016.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Grief is a psychobiological response to the loss of a loved one. Some grief theorists suggest that this predictable response may arise from withdrawal of psychobiological regulation previously provided by the deceased (e.g. assistance with emotion regulation). Accordingly, recovery from loss may require bereaved individuals to re-establish self-regulatory control to avoid developing Complicated Grief (CG). This model implies that adults with CG may exhibit aberrant emotional responding to environmental stimuli. The present study was designed to test this hypothesis. METHODS We recruited a sample of 23 bereaved adults with CG and 26 healthy bereaved adults to complete an emotional reactivity paradigm. Participants watched a series of emotional film clips and provided measures of their self-reported emotional response. We also assessed their heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and skin conductance level in response to these clips. RESULTS Though emotional and physiological differences between the groups were rare, the CG group exhibited attenuated RSA reactivity to some emotional film clips, suggesting blunted parasympathetic nervous system reactivity in those with the disorder. LIMITATIONS Limitations include the modest sample size and unequal group sizes. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with CG do not exhibit pervasive differences in emotional and physiological reactivity compared to healthy bereaved individuals. However, we did observe evidence of blunted parasympathetic nervous system reactivity in individuals with CG, which may mediate emotional inflexibility among those who develop the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leslie D Unger
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, United States
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Pruneti C, Saccò M, Cosentino C, Sgromo D. Relevance of Autonomic Arousal in the Stress Response in Psychopathology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.6000/1927-5129.2016.12.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Robertson SMC, Swickert RJ, Connelly K, Galizio A. Physiological reactivity during autobiographical narratives in older adults: the roles of depression and anxiety. Aging Ment Health 2016; 19:689-97. [PMID: 25289681 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2014.962010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Physiological reactivity (PR) describes the change in physiological functioning (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, pulse pressure) that occurs after the induction of a stressful task. This study aims to understand the influence of mental health symptoms on patterns of PR during autobiographical narratives in an older adult sample. METHOD Eighty older adults completed self-report measures regarding their symptoms of depression and anxiety. Next, their blood pressure was recorded while they completed two verbal autobiographical narratives. RESULTS During the positive narrative, anxiety was positively associated with increased PR while depression was negatively associated with PR. During the negative narrative, a significant interaction occurred whereby anxiety was significantly positively associated with PR for those participants low in depression. DISCUSSION The above results are explained in the context of the Tripartite Model of Depression and Anxiety, which predicts different patterns of PR as a function of mental health symptoms. Limitations and future directions are also discussed.
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