Heartbeat Complexity Modulation in Bipolar Disorder during Daytime and Nighttime

Sci Rep. 2017 Dec 20;7(1):17920. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18036-z.

Abstract

This study reports on the complexity modulation of heartbeat dynamics in patients affected by bipolar disorder. In particular, a multiscale entropy analysis was applied to the R-R interval series, that were derived from electrocardiographic (ECG) signals for a group of nineteen subjects comprised of eight patients and eleven healthy control subjects. They were monitored using a textile-based sensorized t-shirt during the day and overnight for a total of 47 diurnal and 27 nocturnal recordings. Patients showed three different mood states: depression, hypomania and euthymia. Results show a clear loss of complexity during depressive and hypomanic states as compared to euthymic and healthy control states. In addition, we observed that a more significant complexity modulation among healthy and pathological mood states occurs during the night. These findings suggest that bipolar disorder is associated with an enhanced sleep-related dysregulation of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) activity, and that heartbeat complex dynamics may serve as a viable marker of pathological conditions in mental health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Autonomic Nervous System / physiopathology*
  • Bipolar Disorder / complications
  • Bipolar Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Circadian Rhythm*
  • Depressive Disorder / etiology
  • Depressive Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Dysthymic Disorder / etiology
  • Dysthymic Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Rate*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Prognosis
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / etiology
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Young Adult