Depression and resting state heart rate variability in children and adolescents — A systematic review and meta-analysis

Among adults, depression is associated with reduced vagal activity, as indexed by high frequency heart rate variability [HF-HRV]), which correlates inversely with depression severity. Available evidence in depressed children and adolescents remains to be reviewed systematically. A search of the lite...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical psychology review Vol. 46; pp. 136 - 150
Main Authors: Koenig, Julian, Kemp, Andrew H., Beauchaine, Theodore P., Thayer, Julian F., Kaess, Michael
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2016
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescents
Child
Children
Depression
Depressive Disorder - physiopathology
Depressive symptoms
Heart Rate - physiology
Heart rate variability
Humans
Rest
Vagal activity
POMS
BDI
MDD
HRV
SCID
IBI
SD
tVNS
TRAILS
CBCL
CSI
COD
VNS
Children
Adolescents
RCADS
RSA
AD
PRISMA
Depression
ISCA
RMSSD
SSRI
DISC
Vagal activity
CES-D
YSR
Depressive symptoms
CABI
LF
SEM
SCL
SCL-90
Heart rate variability
HF
ISSN:0272-7358, 1873-7811, 1873-7811
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Among adults, depression is associated with reduced vagal activity, as indexed by high frequency heart rate variability [HF-HRV]), which correlates inversely with depression severity. Available evidence in depressed children and adolescents remains to be reviewed systematically. A search of the literature was performed to identify studies reporting (i) HF-HRV in clinically depressed children/adolescents relative to controls (k=4, n=259) and (ii) the association between HF-HRV and depressive symptoms as measured by standardized psychometric instruments in children and adolescents (k=6, n=2625). Random-effects meta-analysis on group differences revealed significant effects that were associated with a moderate effect size (Hedges' g=−0.59; 95% CI [−1.05; −0.13]), indicating lower resting state HF-HRV among clinically depressed children/adolescents (n=99) compared to healthy controls (n=160), consistent with findings among adults. While no correlation between HF-HRV and depressive symptom severity was observed (r=−.041 [−0.143; 0.062]), these additional correlational findings are limited to non-clinical samples. Findings have important clinical implications including a potentially increased risk for future physical ill health and also the identification of potential new treatment targets in child and adolescent depression. •In adults, depression is associated with reduced resting state high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV).•We reviewed the evidence on such association in children and adolescents.•We found lower resting state HF-HRV in clinically depressed adolescents.•Unlike in adults, depressive symptom severity is not associated with HF-HRV.•Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are provided.
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ISSN:0272-7358
1873-7811
1873-7811
DOI:10.1016/j.cpr.2016.04.013