Is blunted cardiovascular reactivity in depression mood-state dependent? A comparison of major depressive disorder remitted depression and healthy controls

Abstract

Prior work has repeatedly demonstrated that people who have current major depression exhibit blunted cardiovascular reactivity to acute stressors (e.g., Salomon et al., 2009). A key question regards the psychobiological basis for these deficits, including whether such deficits are depressed mood-state dependent or whether these effects are trait-like and are observed outside of depression episodes invulnerable individuals. To examine this issue, we assessed cardiovascular reactivity to a speech stressor task and a forehead cold pressor in 50 individuals with current major depressive disorder (MDD), 25 with remitted major depression (RMD), and 45 healthy controls. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure and impedance cardiography were assessed and analyses controlled for BMI and sex. Significant group effects were found for SBP, HR, and PEP for the speech preparation period and HR, CO, and PEP during the speech. For each of these parameters, only the MDD group exhibited attenuated reactivity as well as impaired SBP recovery. Reactivity and recovery in the RMD group more closely resembled the healthy controls. Speeches given by the MDD group were rated as less persuasive than the RMD or healthy controls' speeches. No significant differences were found for the cold pressor. Blunted cardiovascular reactivity and impaired recovery in current major depression may be mood-state dependent phenomena and may be more reflective of motivational deficits than deficits in the physiological integrity of the cardiovascular system.

Why might poor sleep quality lead to depression? A role for emotion regulation

“…Specifically, the sample was collected originally for a study of autonomic nervous system functioning in depression and sample sizes reflected the requirements of the parent study (see Salomon et al, 2013 for details of recruitment and screening procedures); the current sample size, however, was also adequate to assess mediation effects using bootstrapping (Koopman et al, 2014). Community participants were recruited and visited the laboratory for clinical and psychophysiological assessments, as well as completing self-report scales.…”

Do depressive symptoms “blunt” effort? An analysis of cardiac engagement and withdrawal for an increasingly difficult task

“…Several studies have found that depressive symptoms—assessed with subclinical self-report scales or with clinical interviews—predicted less cardiovascular reactivity to public performance challenges (e.g., speech and singing tasks: Salomon, Bylsma, White, Panaite, & Rottenberg, 2013; Salomon, Clift, Karlsdóttir, & Rottenberg, 2009; Schwerdtfeger & Gerteis, 2013; Schwerdtfeger & Rosenkaimer, 2011). Several other studies have found no effect (e.g., for mirror-tracing or cold pressor tasks: Salomon et al, 2009, 2013).…”

Juvenile onset depression alters cardiac autonomic balance in response to psychological and physical challenges

“…For example, Salomon, Clift, Karlsdottir & Rottenberg (2009) and Salomon, Bylsma, White, Panaite, & Rottenberg (2013) found blunted sympathetic nervous system (SNS) reactivity to a laboratory stressor task, as indexed by lengthened pre-ejection period (PEP), although others have found shorter PEP in individuals with depressive symptoms (Light, Kothandapani & Allen, 1998). Overall, research thus far reveals mixed evidence of PNS and SNS deficits in depression.…”