Publication: Differential Analysis of Heart Rate Variability in School Going Adolescents: Comparing Healthy Individuals with Those Experiencing Depression and Anxiety
Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Adolescents often struggle with depression and anxiety, which can greatly affect
their well-being and functioning. Early detection is crucial for timely intervention and
long-term health.
Objective
The objective of this study is to compare heart rate variability between depressed
and anxious adolescents and their healthy peers.
Method
In this cross-sectional study, adolescents aged between 13-18 years were randomly
selected from various schools. Participants were assessed for depression and anxiety
using the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale-25 (RCADS-25). Heart Rate
Variability was measured using Power lab, with recorded variables including Median
normal to normal interval (NN), Standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval
(SDNN), Root Mean Square of the Successive Differences (RMSSD), Percentage of
successive normal to normal interval differing by more than 50 milliseconds (pNN50),
Low frequency power % (LF), High frequency power % (HF), and the LF:HF ratio.
Result
Reduction in certain time domain HRV parameters was observed among the subset
of depressed students in Classes XI and XII, such as NN interval (p=0.019), SDNN
(p=0.024), and RMSSD (p=0.034). Anxious adolescents showed a significant reduction
in HRV compared to their healthy counterparts [(NN, p<.001), (SDNN, p=0.011),
(RMSSD, p=0.017), (pNN50, p=0.016). Students with symptoms of both depression
and anxiety demonstrated significantly reduced HRV parameters compared to the
healthy group, affecting NN, (p<.001), SDNN, (p=0.003), RMSSD, ( p<.001), pNN50,
(p< .001), HFP %, (p< .001) and LF: HF (p=.005). This association was observed in both
males and females.
Conclusion
Adolescents with depression and anxiety have lower HRV than their healthy peers.
Monitoring HRV may help to objectively detect these conditions.
KEY WORDS
Adolescents, Anxiety, Depression, Heart rate variability
Description
Thapa B,1 Kumar S,1 Laskar NB,2 Bhandari SS,3 Gupta S4
1Department of Physiology
Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences
2Department of Community Medicine
Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences
3Department of Psychiatry
Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences
4Sikkim Manipal College of Physiotherapy
Sikkim Manipal University
Tadong, Gangtok 737102, India
Keywords
Adolescents, Anxiety, Depression, Heart rate variability