Higher baseline high-frequency heart rate variability predicted a significant decline in general distress over three years among 362 adolescents and young adults.
Does baseline heart rate variability predict the trajectory of internalizing symptoms in adolescents and young adults?
362 adolescents and young adults
High-frequency power bands (HF power) of interbeat intervals at baseline (heart rate variability)
Tri-level symptom factors (General Distress, Fears, Anhedonia-Apprehension) over 3 yearspatient reported
Greater parasympathetic nervous system activity at baseline, measured by heart rate variability, is associated with a greater decline in broad internalizing symptoms in adolescents and young adults.
Reports an error in "Heart rate variability as a biomarker for transdiagnostic depressive and anxiety symptom trajectory in adolescents and young adults" by Alainna Wen, Tomislav D. Zbozinek, Julian Ruiz, Richard E. Zinbarg, Robin Nusslock and Michelle G. Craske (Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 2024Nov, Vol 1338, 638-646; see record 2025-40884-007). In the article, the authors several errors related to the Anhedonia-Apprehension variable. These errors do not affect the main findings or conclusions of the article. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2025-40884-007). Internalizing psychopathology is associated with abnormalities in heart rate variability (HRV). Lower HRV that reflects reduced parasympathetic nervous system activity has been observed in depressive and anxiety disorders. Existing studies predominantly used categorical rather than dimensional approaches, the latter of which better addresses clinical comorbidity and heterogeneity. Moreover, there is little evidence on the role of HRV in longitudinal symptom trajectory in adolescents and young adults. The current study examined the association between HRV and internalizing symptom trajectory using a dimensional approach-the tri-level model of depression and anxiety. Adolescents and young adults (N = 362) were recruited in a 3-year longitudinal study, where they completed electrocardiogram recordings and self-report symptom questionnaires. Multilevel modeling was conducted with high-frequency power bands (HF power) of interbeat intervals at baseline as the predictor, and tri-level symptom factors over 3 years as the outcome. HF power significantly predicted the trajectory of the broad General Distress symptom factor, but not the intermediate Fears or Anhedonia-Apprehension symptom factors. Higher HF power was associated with a decline in General Distress over time. This association was held when neuroticism, other tri-level symptom factors, and demographic variables were covaried. That is, greater parasympathetic nervous system activity at baseline was significantly associated with a greater decline in the broad internalizing symptom factor, but not symptom factors that are more specific to depressive or anxiety disorders. Parasympathetic activity, therefore, may be a transdiagnostic biomarker for internalizing symptoms in adolescents and young adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
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Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science
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A Thu, study reported a other. Higher baseline high-frequency heart rate variability predicted a significant decline in general distress over three years among 362 adolescents and young adults.
www.synapsesocial.com/papers/69ec5b6088ba6daa22dacfbe — DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0001120