Heart Rate Variability in Depression

Relationship Between Heart Rate Variability and Emotional Experience in Healthy and Depressed Adults

The purpose of this study is to understand if there is a relationship between the way that emotions are regulated by the brain and the way that heart rate is regulated by the brain. The study also seeks to understand whether having depression changes the way that emotions and heart rate are regulated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 18-65 years
• Able to understand and provide informed consent
• Male and female

Depressed Subjects:

• Current diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) and currently in an major depressive episode (MDE)
• Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomology (QIDS-SR16) score of 11 or greater
• Anticipated treatment with ketamine infusion for depression

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current daily use of tricyclic antidepressants
• Current diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia or heart failure
• Pregnancy
• Current use of cardiac medications of the class beta-blockers
• Current treatment with deep brain stimulation for any reason

Healthy Controls:

• Current psychiatric treatment, including use of antidepressants or daily use of anxiolytic medication

Depressed Subjects:

• Previous history of ketamine infusion for depression
• Psychotic symptoms
• Active co-morbid psychiatric diagnosis including anxiety disorder or personality disorder that significantly affects the current clinical condition, as determined by medical records