Back to Search
Start Over
Loss of Efferent Vagal Activity in Acute Schizophrenia
- Source :
- Klinische Neurophysiologie. 35
- Publication Year :
- 2004
- Publisher :
- Georg Thieme Verlag KG, 2004.
-
Abstract
- An increased heart rate has been reported in schizophrenia. It is unclear whether this is due to disease-related autonomic nervous system changes or a side effect of antipsychotic medication. Altered cardiac autonomic function might to some extent account for the elevated cardiovascular mortality rate of schizophrenic patients. We assessed heart rate variability (HRV) in 30 acute unmedicated schizophrenic patients and matched controls. Patients were re-investigated 2–4 days after initiation of treatment to assess effects of medication. Our study demonstrates that non-medicated schizophrenic patients were significantly different in heart rate (increase) and parasympathetic parameters (loss of efferent vagal activity) at rest and during deep respiration. No significant effect was found after initiation of neuroleptic therapy. We found a correlation between duration of disease and parasympathetic parameters as well as very low frequency power (VLF) and delusion (SAPS subscale). These data suggest that schizophrenia is accompanied by a loss of vagal efferent activity, probably due to disturbed cortical–subcortical circuits modulating the autonomic nervous system in acute psychosis. The definite mechanisms by which vagal activity might be suppressed in schizophrenia are unknown. Parasympathetic hypoactivity might increase the risk for sudden cardiac death and arrhythmias in this disease. Future studies are warranted to investigate the interaction between cardiac autonomic function and schizophrenia and to identify patients on risk.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Psychosis
medicine.medical_specialty
medicine.medical_treatment
Efferent
Efferent Pathways
Sudden cardiac death
Heart Rate
Physiology (medical)
Internal medicine
Heart rate
medicine
Humans
Heart rate variability
Vagal tone
Antipsychotic
Biological Psychiatry
Aged
business.industry
Respiration
Vagus Nerve
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Vagus nerve
Psychiatry and Mental health
Autonomic nervous system
Endocrinology
Schizophrenia
Anesthesia
Case-Control Studies
Acute Disease
Cardiology
Female
Neurology (clinical)
Psychology
Hypoactivity
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14394081 and 14340275
- Volume :
- 35
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Klinische Neurophysiologie
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a0de82a15e9ae7caa0d7c68d7a305962