title: Changes in heart rate variability during TOVA testing in patients with major depressive disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify major depressive disorder (MDD) based on heart rate variability (HRV) during tests of variables of attention (TOVA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five MDD patients without cardiovascular disease and 45 controls matched by age and gender participated in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the controls, the MDD group had lower resting HRV parameters, more omissions and variability and longer response times on TOVA, and failure of attention employment to decrease HRV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The resting HRV parameters may provide easily measured, clinically useful ways to identify patients with MDD and to monitor their progress in treatment.
authors: Department of Medical Informatics, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors: Tsu-Wang
authors: TW
authors: Shen
authors: Fang-Chih
authors: FC
authors: Liu
authors: Shaw-Ji
authors: SJ
authors: Chen
authors: Shao-Tsu
authors: ST
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003863:Depression; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology