title: Heart rate variability in elderly patients before and after electroconvulsive therapy.
abstract: Earlier studies have found major depression to be associated with increased cardiac mortality, hypothesized to result from reduced vagal modulation. Since reduced heart rate variability is part of normal aging, depression might predispose elderly patients to a higher risk. The authors investigated cardiac autonomic modulation, using spectral analysis, in 11 elderly depressed inpatients before and after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Cardiac vagal modulation increased significantly after ECT and was associated with symptom improvement, assessed by a significant decrease in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Further research is needed to elucidate the relationship between depression, autonomic modulation, and clinical risks in elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Psychogeriatrics Department and Research Unit, Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Petah Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nahshoni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aizenberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sigler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zalsman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strasberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imbar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weizman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents