title: Influence of olanzapine on QT variability and complexity measures of heart rate in patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that untreated patients with acute schizophrenia present with reduced heart rate variability and complexity as well as increased QT variability. This autonomic dysregulation might contribute to increased cardiac morbidity and mortality in these patients. However, the additional effects of newer antipsychotics on autonomic dysfunction have not been investigated, applying these new cardiac parameters to gain information about the regulation at sinus node level as well as the susceptibility to arrhythmias. We have investigated 15 patients with acute schizophrenia before and after established olanzapine treatment and compared them with matched controls. New nonlinear parameters (approximate entropy, compression entropy, fractal dimension) of heart rate variability and also the QT-variability index were calculated. In accordance with previous results, we have observed reduced complexity of heart rate regulation in untreated patients. Furthermore, the QT-variability index was significantly increased in unmedicated patients, indicating increased repolarization lability. Reduction of the heart rate regulation complexity after olanzapine treatment was seen, as measured by compression entropy of heart rate. No change in QT variability was observed after treatment. This study shows that unmedicated patients with acute schizophrenia experience autonomic dysfunction. Olanzapine treatment seems to have very little additional impact in regard to the QT variability. However, the decrease in heart rate complexity after olanzapine treatment suggests decreased cardiac vagal function, which may increase the risk for cardiac mortality. Further studies are warranted to gain more insight into cardiac regulation in schizophrenia and the effect of novel antipsychotics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany. Karl-Juergen.Baer@med.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: Karl-Jürgen
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Bär
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koschke
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tancer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.forename: Vikram K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Yeragani
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine