Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40595479›Full record

SynthesisTranslational psychiatry2025

Is cardiac autonomic control affected in major depressive disorder? A systematic review of heart rate variability studies.

Federica Goffi, Eleonora Maggioni, Anna Maria Bianchi, Paolo Brambilla, Giuseppe Delvecchio

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Translational psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Federica GoffiDepartment of Electronics Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-4313-3683
Eleonora MaggioniDepartment of Electronics Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4331-4029
Anna Maria BianchiDepartment of Electronics Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Paolo BrambillaDepartment of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. paolo.brambilla1@unimi.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4021-8456
Giuseppe DelvecchioDepartment of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

Funding

Ministero della Salute (Ministry of Health, Italy) GR-2019-12370616Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (Ministry of Education, University and Research) PRIN 2022 PNRR, grant no. P20229MFRC
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is a heterogeneous psychiatric disorder that is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Autonomic dysregulation, estimated as an important correlated pathophysiological cause, was investigated in many studies mainly through a quantitative evaluation of the heart rate variability (HRV).

aimThe objective of this review was to provide any reproducible insights on autonomic regulation characteristics of MDD through the selection, revision, and joint interpretation of a restricted sample of studies based on systematic criteria.

methodsThe literature research resulted in thirty eligible articles that reported the comparison of short-term resting-state HRV measures between drug-free MDD patients and healthy controls, excluding subjects affected by cardiovascular diseases.

resultsMost of the reviewed studies reported significant differences between MDD patients and controls in the investigated HRV measures, especially for those that mainly reflect vagal activity. Nonlinear measures, although computed by fewer studies, seem to be more sensitive in detecting autonomic changes in MDD.

conclusionsOur findings can be considered as evidence that the intrinsic autonomic state of MDD is characterized by decreased parasympathetic tone, which, interpreted in the context of the polyvagal theory, might be associated with impaired emotion regulation and flexible adjustment in MDD.

Indexed as

Autonomic Nervous SystemHeart RateMajor Depressive DisorderHumans

Identifiers

PMID40595479
PMCPMC12215732

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.