Inverse autonomic stress reactivity in depressed patients with and without prior history of depression

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric research 2020-12, Vol.131, p.114-118
• Main Authors: Agorastos, Agorastos, Stiedl, Oliver, Heinig, Alexandra, Sommer, Anne, Hager, Torben, Freundlieb, Nils, Schruers, Koen R., Demiralay, Cüneyt
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autonomic Nervous System; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major - complications; Heart Rate; Heart rate variability; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis); Major depressive disorder; Metyrapone; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Stress
• ISSN: 0022-3956; 1879-1379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.09.016

There is a considerable association between major depressive disorder (MDD) and cardiovascular disease, most possibly relying on abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system (ANS)-related cardiac reactivity, although the exact underlying pathophysiological pathway is unclear. This study tends to shed some additional light on this background by investigating ANS reactivity in MDD with respect to previous depression history through an objective stress challenge paradigm. The study assessed the effects of an overnight hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stimulation with metyrapone (MET) on baseline ANS activity through linear and non-linear heart rate variability (HRV) measures in the morning of two continuous days in a group of 14 physically healthy, antidepressant-free patients with clinical, non-psychotic MDD, to investigate differences in autonomic reactivity with respect to prior MDD history. The main findings of this study include statistically significant time × group interactions with respect to several HRV measures, suggesting substantial differences on autonomic reactivity between patients with and without depression history. Hereby, recurrent-episode MDD patients showed lower vagal activity, while first-episode MDD patients increased PNS activity after HPA axis stimulation. These findings indicate that HPA axis stimulation in MDD patients leads to inverse vagal response according to MDD history. We suggest that chronic stress system overactivation, as found in MDD, might lead to a progressive inversion of the original stress response through HPA axis and ANS divergence over the course of a recurrent illness. HRV could, thus, represent a significant biomarker in MDD with temporal sensitivity. •First study on autonomic reactivity in MDD patients according to MDD history.•Autonomic reactivity to HPA axis stimulation depends on MDD history status.•First vs. recurrent episode MDD patients show inverse autonomic reactivity.•Results suggest progressive changes in autonomic reactivity over the course of MDD.•HRV is a biomarker to assess chronic stress-mediated autonomic reactivity changes.