title: [Spectral analysis of Heart Rate Variability in psychiatric patients: autonomic  nervous system evaluation in psychotic, anxiety and depressive disorders].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to test the primary hypothesis of altered Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and heart rate in a sample of patients with mental disorders and the secondary hypothesis of normalization of HRV values as a result of clinical improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on a sample of 90 patients with psychotic, anxiety and mood disorders. Each patient was subjected to detection of HRV and heart rate via a photoplethysmographic sensor and evaluated with rating scales based on the specific disorder. The parameters detected in the sample were compared with a control group of healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences of cardiac autonomic modulation between the group of patients in whom is possible exclude the drug influence and the control group; significantly lower values of HRV parameters in the group of patients with drug influence, and especially in subgroup of psychotic patients, compared to controls, are, instead, detected. The study also shows a significant increase in heart rate as a common feature in mental disorders, regardless of treatment. Clinical improvement appears to promote the normalization of the variability in patients with high DS of tachogram.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests a potential increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients, as evidenced by the increased values of heart rate, regardless of drug treatment. This risk is even more pronounced in psychotic patients in drug treatment because of the simultaneous significant reduction of HRV parameters.
authors.affiliation: Universita di Catania. giovanni.loturco@pec.it
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lo Turco
authors.forename: Liria
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grimaldi Di Terresena
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017156:Photoplethysmography / Q000379:methods; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents