scholarly journals Effects of Sahaj Samadhi meditation on heart rate variability and depressive symptoms in patients with late-life depression

2018 ◽  
Vol 214 (4) ◽  
pp. 218-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Ionson ◽  
Jayneel Limbachia ◽  
Soham Rej ◽  
Klajdi Puka ◽  
Ronnie I. Newman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Item Score ◽  
Treatment As Usual

BackgroundLate-life depression (LLD) is a disabling disorder and antidepressants are ineffective in as many as 60% of cases. Converging evidence shows a strong correlation between LLD and subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease. There is a need for new, well-tolerated, non-pharmacological augmentation interventions that can treat depressive symptoms as well as improve heart rate variability (HRV), an important prognostic marker for development of subsequent cardiovascular disease. Meditation-based techniques are of interest based on positive findings in other samples.AimsWe aimed to assess the efficacy of Sahaj Samadhi meditation (SSM), an underevaluated, standardised and manualised meditation intervention, on HRV and depressive symptoms.MethodEighty-three men and women aged 60–85 years, with mild to moderate depression and receiving treatment as usual (TAU) were randomised to either the SSM or TAU arm. Those allocated to SSM attended 4 consecutive days of group meditation training, using personalised mantras followed by 11 weekly reinforcement sessions. HRV and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD; 17-item) score were measured at baseline and 12 weeks.ResultsAll time and frequency domain measures of HRV did not significantly change in either arm. However, there was significant improvement in the SSM arm, compared with TAU, on the HRSD (difference in mean, 2.66; 95% CI 0.26–5.05; P = 0.03).ConclusionsCompared with TAU, SSM is associated with improvements in depressive symptoms but does not significantly improve HRV in patients with LLD. These results need to be replicated in subsequent studies incorporating a group-based, active control arm.Declaration of interestR.I.N. is the Director of Research and Health Promotion for the Art of Living Foundation, Canada and supervised the staff providing Sahaj Samadhi meditation. S.R. has received research funding from Satellite Healthcare for a mindfulness meditation trial in patients on haemodialysis. The remaining authors report no financial or other relationship relevant to the subject of this article.

scholarly journals Reduction of depressive symptoms during inpatient treatment is not associated with changes in heart rate variability

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248686
Author(s):  
Sabrina Neyer ◽  
Michael Witthöft ◽  
Mark Cropley ◽  
Markus Pawelzik ◽  
Ricardo Gregorio Lugo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Psychiatric Treatment ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Symptom Improvement ◽  
Vagal Activity ◽  
Before And After

Vagally mediated heart rate variability (HRV) is a psychophysiological indicator of mental and physical health. Limited research suggests there is reduced vagal activity and resulting lower HRV in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD); however little is actually known about the association between HRV and symptoms of depression and whether the association mirrors symptom improvement following psychotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between antidepressant therapy, symptom change and HRV in 50 inpatients (68% females; 17–68 years) with a diagnosis of MDD. Severity of depressive symptoms was assessed by self-report (Beck Depression Inventory II) and the Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression. Measures of vagally mediated HRV (root mean square of successive differences and high-frequency) were assessed at multiple measurement points before and after inpatient psychotherapeutic and psychiatric treatment. Results showed an expected negative correlation between HRV and depressive symptoms at intake. Depressive symptoms improved (d = 0.84) without corresponding change in HRV, demonstrating a de-coupling between this psychophysiological indicator and symptom severity. To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine an association between HRV and depressive symptoms before and after psychotherapy. The observed de-coupling of depression and HRV, and its methodological implications for future research are discussed.

A study of orthostatic hypotension, heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity in late-life depression

2011 ◽  
Vol 131 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 374-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akshya Vasudev ◽  
John T. O'Brien ◽  
Maw Pin Tan ◽  
Steve W. Parry ◽  
Alan J. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Orthostatic Hypotension ◽  
Baroreflex Sensitivity ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Late Life Depression

scholarly journals Are Apathy and Depressive Symptoms Related to Vascular White Matter Hyperintensities in Severe Late Life Depression?

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mardien Leoniek Oudega ◽  
Amna Siddiqui ◽  
Mike P. Wattjes ◽  
Frederik Barkhof ◽  
Mara ten Kate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensities ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Symptom Profile ◽  
Interest And Motivation

Objective: Apathy symptoms are defined as a lack of interest and motivation. Patients with late-life depression (LLD) also suffer from lack of interest and motivation and previous studies have linked apathy to vascular white matter hyperintensities (WMH) of the brain in depressed and nondepressed patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between apathy symptoms, depressive symptoms, and WMH in LLD. We hypothesize that late-onset depression (LOD; first episode of depression after 55 years of age) is associated with WMH and apathy symptoms. Methods: Apathy scores were collected for 87 inpatients diagnosed with LLD. Eighty patients underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging. Associations between depressive and apathy symptoms and WMH were analyzed using linear regression. Results: All 3 subdomains of the 10-item Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale correlated significantly with the apathy scale score (all P < .05). In the total sample, apathy nor depressive symptoms were related to specific WMH. In LOD only, periventricular WMH were associated with depression severity (β = 5.21, P = .04), while WMH in the left infratentorial region were associated with apathy symptoms (β coefficient = 5.89, P = .03). Conclusion: Apathy and depressive symptoms are highly overlapping in the current cohort of older patients with severe LLD, leading to the hypothesis that apathy symptoms are part of depressive symptoms in the symptom profile of older patients with severe LLD. Neither apathy nor depressive symptoms were related to WMH, suggesting that radiological markers of cerebrovascular disease, such as WMH, may not be useful in predicting these symptoms in severe LLD.

Heart rate variability alterations in late life depression: A meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 235 ◽  
pp. 456-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia Brown ◽  
Chandan Karmakar ◽  
Richard Gray ◽  
Ripu Jindal ◽  
Terrence Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Late Life Depression

Heart rate variability in adolescent major depression

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 361-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Tonhajzerova ◽  
I. Ondrejka ◽  
Z. Turianikova ◽  
L. Chladekova ◽  
K. Javorka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Autonomic Regulation ◽  
Cardiac Complications ◽  
Nonlinear Methods ◽  
Cardiac Autonomic Regulation ◽  
Linear And Nonlinear

IntroductionImpaired cardiac autonomic regulation is likely important contributor to a potential cardiac complications in major depression. The knowledge regarding the depression effect on cardiac regulation in adolescent age is limited. Aim was to study short-term heart rate variability (HRV) as an index of cardiac autonomic control in never-treated major depressive disorder (MDD) adolescent patients using linear and nonlinear methods related to depressive symptoms severity.MethodsWe have examined 20 MDD girls and 20 healthy age-matched girls at the age from 15 to 18 years. The ECG was recorded in three positions: supine - orthostasis - supine. The HRV was analyzed using linear (time and frequency analysis) and novel nonlinear (symbolic dynamics, time assymetry) methods. The severity of depressive symptoms was evaluated using the scales Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI).ResultsSeveral HRV linear and nonlinear parameters were significantly reduced in MDD group compared to controls in supine rest and during orthostasis. The HRV nonlinear analysis indices significantly correlated with depressive symptoms severity.ConclusionsLinear and nonlinear analyses revealed reduced magnitude and complexity of the HRV indicating impaired neurocardiac regulation in adolescent major depression. In addition, new approach of HRV analysis using nonlinear methods provided important information about depressive symptoms severity and cardiac autonomic regulation relations.

Physical Exercise for Late-Life Depression: Effects on Heart Rate Variability

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 989-997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulio Toni ◽  
Martino Belvederi Murri ◽  
Massimo Piepoli ◽  
Stamatula Zanetidou ◽  
Aderville Cabassi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Late Life Depression

scholarly journals Health and social care service utilisation and associated expenditure among community-dwelling older adults with depressive symptoms

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiyu Lu ◽  
Tianyin Liu ◽  
Gloria H. Y. Wong ◽  
Dara K. Y. Leung ◽  
Lesley C. Y. Sze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Social Care Service ◽  
Health And Social Care

Abstract Aims Late-life depression has substantial impacts on individuals, families and society. Knowledge gaps remain in estimating the economic impacts associated with late-life depression by symptom severity, which has implications for resource prioritisation and research design (such as in modelling). This study examined the incremental health and social care expenditure of depressive symptoms by severity. Methods We analysed data collected from 2707 older adults aged 60 years and over in Hong Kong. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Client Service Receipt Inventory were used, respectively, to measure depressive symptoms and service utilisation as a basis for calculating care expenditure. Two-part models were used to estimate the incremental expenditure associated with symptom severity over 1 year. Results The average PHQ-9 score was 6.3 (standard deviation, s.d. = 4.0). The percentages of respondents with mild, moderate and moderately severe symptoms and non-depressed were 51.8%, 13.5%, 3.7% and 31.0%, respectively. Overall, the moderately severe group generated the largest average incremental expenditure (US$5886; 95% CI 1126–10 647 or a 272% increase), followed by the mild group (US$3849; 95% CI 2520–5177 or a 176% increase) and the moderate group (US$1843; 95% CI 854–2831, or 85% increase). Non-psychiatric healthcare was the main cost component in a mild symptom group, after controlling for other chronic conditions and covariates. The average incremental association between PHQ-9 score and overall care expenditure peaked at PHQ-9 score of 4 (US$691; 95% CI 444–939), then gradually fell to negative between scores of 12 (US$ - 35; 95% CI - 530 to 460) and 19 (US$ -171; 95% CI - 417 to 76) and soared to positive and rebounded at the score of 23 (US$601; 95% CI -1652 to 2854). Conclusions The association between depressive symptoms and care expenditure is stronger among older adults with mild and moderately severe symptoms. Older adults with the same symptom severity have different care utilisation and expenditure patterns. Non-psychiatric healthcare is the major cost element. These findings inform ways to optimise policy efforts to improve the financial sustainability of health and long-term care systems, including the involvement of primary care physicians and other geriatric healthcare providers in preventing and treating depression among older adults and related budgeting and accounting issues across services.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document