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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04192669

Heart Rate Variability as a Clinical Marker in a Population of Anxio-depressive Patients

The heart rate (HR) is regulated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and results from a balance between the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) that accelerates the heart rate and the parasympathetic nervous system that slows the HR via the vagus nerve.

Low HRV is linked to poor emotional and cognitive regulation. Values for HRV are generally lower in depressed patients.

The aim of this study is to determine how HRV could be a clinical marker that can be used in routine psychiatry practice in patients with anxio-depressive disorders, to determine the severity of symptoms and the degree of response to treatment.

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Key information

Conditions

Anxio Depressive Disorder

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

CHU Brugmann

Brussels, Belgium

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients of the CHU Brugmann Hospital with an anxious or depressive disorder

Exclusion criteria

  • None

Treatment and study plan

Heart rate monitoring

Device

The heart rate will be recorded and calculated by a heart rate monitor (Polar H10, Finland) located on the chest. The recording is done over a period of 5 minutes, the patient being in a sitting position, without any particular stimulus, in a quiet room. The recording is transferred via the HRV Logger application. Any ectopic beats and artifacts are automatically identified and replaced by values interpolated by the investigator, if necessary. The Kubios HRV Premium Software is used for all calculations.

Primary outcomes

  1. Beck depression inventory (BDI)

    Time frame: Baseline (day of inclusion of the patient in the study).

    Multiple choice (4 choices) questionnaire with 21 items. The end score can vary between 0 and 63. Score interpretation: 1-10: These ups and downs are considered normal. 11-16 Mild mood disturbance. 17-20 Borderline clinical depression. 21-30 Moderate depression. 31-40 : Severe depression. Over 40 :Extreme depression.

  2. Beck depression inventory (BDI)

    Time frame: Measured only once at one visit taking place minimum 3 months and maximum 6 months after baseline

    Multiple choice (4 choices) questionnaire with 21 items. The end score can vary between 0 and 63. Score interpretation: 1-10: These ups and downs are considered normal. 11-16 Mild mood disturbance. 17-20 Borderline clinical depression. 21-30 Moderate depression. 31-40 : Severe depression. Over 40 :Extreme depression.

  3. State trait Anxiety inventory (STAI)

    Time frame: Baseline (day of inclusion of the patient in the study).

    The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is a psychological inventory based on a 4-point Likert scale and consists of 40 questions on a self-report basis. Scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores correlating with greater anxiety.

  4. State trait Anxiety inventory (STAI)

    Time frame: Measured only once at one visit taking place minimum 3 months and maximum 6 months after baseline

    The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is a psychological inventory based on a 4-point Likert scale and consists of 40 questions on a self-report basis. Scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores correlating with greater anxiety.

  5. Maslach Burnout inventory (MBI)

    Time frame: Baseline (day of inclusion of the patient in the study).

    The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is an introspective psychological inventory consisting of 22 items pertaining to occupational burnout. All MBI items are scored using a 7 level frequency scale from "never" to "daily." Initial development had 3 components: emotional exhaustion (9 items), depersonalization (5 items) and personal achievement (8 items). Each scale measures its own unique dimension of burnout. Scales should not be combined to form a single burnout scale.

  6. Maslach Burnout inventory (MBI)

    Time frame: Measured only once at one visit taking place minimum 3 months and maximum 6 months after baseline

    The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is an introspective psychological inventory consisting of 22 items pertaining to occupational burnout. All MBI items are scored using a 7 level frequency scale from "never" to "daily." Initial development had 3 components: emotional exhaustion (9 items), depersonalization (5 items) and personal achievement (8 items). Each scale measures its own unique dimension of burnout. Scales should not be combined to form a single burnout scale.

  7. Root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD)

    Time frame: Baseline (day of inclusion of the patient in the study).

    The Root Mean Square of the Successive Differences (RMSSD) is one of a few time-domain tools used to assess heart rate variability, the successive differences being neighboring RR intervals. It reflects the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system.

  8. Root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD)

    Time frame: Measured only once at one visit taking place minimum 3 months and maximum 6 months after baseline

    The Root Mean Square of the Successive Differences (RMSSD) is one of a few time-domain tools used to assess heart rate variability, the successive differences being neighboring RR intervals. It reflects the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system.

  9. High frequency percentage in the spectral analysis of the heart RR interval

    Time frame: Baseline (day of inclusion of the patient in the study).

    Spectral analysis of the RR interval is an indirect, noninvasive measurement tool of heart rate variability. High-frequency RR signals (0.15 to 0.4 Hz) reflect a parasympathetic activity and thus an influence of the vagal nerve on the heart. A high frequency heart variability is associated with a better perception of emotions and with pro-social behaviors.

  10. High frequency percentage in the spectral analysis of the heart RR interval

    Time frame: Measured only once at one visit taking place minimum 3 months and maximum 6 months after baseline

    Spectral analysis of the RR interval is an indirect, noninvasive measurement tool of heart rate variability. High-frequency RR signals (0.15 to 0.4 Hz) reflect a parasympathetic activity and thus an influence of the vagal nerve on the heart. A high frequency heart variability is associated with a better perception of emotions and with pro-social behaviors.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Toronto Alexithymia scale (TAS 20)

    Time frame: Baseline (day of inclusion of the patient in the study).

    The TAS is a 20-item instrument that is one of the most commonly used measures of alexithymia. Alexithymia refers to people who have trouble identifying and describing emotions and who tend to minimise emotional experience and focus attention externally. The TAS-20 uses cutoff scoring: equal to or less than 51 = non-alexithymia, equal to or greater than 61 = alexithymia. Scores of 52 to 60 = possible alexithymia.

  2. Toronto Alexithymia scale (TAS 20)

    Time frame: Measured only once at one visit taking place minimum 3 months and maximum 6 months after baseline

    The TAS is a 20-item instrument that is one of the most commonly used measures of alexithymia. Alexithymia refers to people who have trouble identifying and describing emotions and who tend to minimise emotional experience and focus attention externally. The TAS-20 uses cutoff scoring: equal to or less than 51 = non-alexithymia, equal to or greater than 61 = alexithymia. Scores of 52 to 60 = possible alexithymia.

  3. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-18)

    Time frame: Baseline (day of inclusion of the patient in the study).

    The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale is a self-report measure that evaluates individuals' levels of difficulties in regulating emotions.Higher scores indicate more difficulty in emotion regulation.

  4. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-18)

    Time frame: Measured only once at one visit taking place minimum 3 months and maximum 6 months after baseline

    The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale is a self-report measure that evaluates individuals' levels of difficulties in regulating emotions.Higher scores indicate more difficulty in emotion regulation.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Tatiana Besse-Hammer

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Study of Heart Rate Variability as a Clinical Marker in a Population of Anxio-depressive Patients

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Dec 10, 2019
Registry last updated
Jul 19, 2022

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.