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Impaired heart rate variability in euthymic bipolar patients
Author(s) -
Cohen Hagit,
Kaplan Zeev,
Kotler Moshe,
Mittelman Irena,
Osher Yamima,
Bersudsky Yuly
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
bipolar disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.285
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1399-5618
pISSN - 1398-5647
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-5618.2003.00027.x
Subject(s) - heart rate variability , bipolar disorder , cardiology , spectral analysis , autonomic function , medicine , psychology , heart rate , audiology , blood pressure , physics , quantum mechanics , spectroscopy , lithium (medication)
Background: Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) has recently been shown to be a reliable non‐invasive test for quantitative assessment of the central sympathovagal interaction that modulates cardiovascular autonomic function. Methods: We studied 39 euthymic bipolar patients and 39 controls, matched for age and sex. A high‐resolution electrocardiogram was obtained during complete rest. Spectral analysis of R–R intervals was performed by the fast Fourier transform algorithm. Results: Euthymic bipolar patients at rest are characterized by markedly low HRV, independent of specific drug treatments. Conclusion: While these results of autonomic stability in euthymic bipolar patients are counter‐intuitive, the findings may be important in understanding pathophysiology of bipolar affective illness.