Changes in heart rate dynamics of patients with schizophrenia treated with risperidone.
Neurocardiac dysregulation has been reported in schizophrenia. Indices of heart rate variability (HRV) are useful in assessing the status of cardiac autonomic regulation. We explored within-subject changes in HRV indices in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia treated with risperidone. Sixteen medication-naïve or medication-free patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia completed electrocardiogram (ECG) assessments at baseline and after six weeks of treatment with risperidone. Indices of HRV were extracted from 5-min resting ECG recordings and compared to those obtained from control subjects matched for age and gender. Psychiatric and drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale (DIEPSS). In comparison with matched controls, patients with acute schizophrenia showed lower values of time-domain measures, lower high-frequency power (HF) and a higher ratio of low to high frequency (LF/HF). In the within-subject analyses, a significant decrease in LF/HF was associated with risperidone treatment. In addition, LF/HF, which initially co-clustered with clinical variables, congregated with other HRV measures after the six-week risperidone treatment. These results indicate that, in the therapeutic process, risperidone treatment may exert a beneficial influence on the sympathovagal imbalance in acute schizophrenia.
Chang
Jae Seung
JS
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 166 Gumi-Ro, Bundang-Gu, Seongnam-Si, Gyeonggi-Do 463-707, Republic of Korea.
Yoo
Cheol Sung
CS
Yi
Sang Hoon
SH
Hong
Kye Hyun
KH
Lee
Yu-Sang
YS
Oh
Hong Seok
HS
Jung
Dong Chung
DC
Kim
Yong Sik
YS
Ahn
Yong Min
YM
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone