Study of Changes in Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Autonomic Functions in Patients of Depression in Rural Western Maharashtra

The deficiency of monoaminergic neurotransmission is important key pathology of depression. With these changes in excitatory neurotransmission in brain it can be hypothesised that this alteration may result into changes in various sympathetic and parasympathetic parameters like Blood pressure, Heart rate and expiratory and inspiratory ratio.

It is a Case Control Observational Study done in collaboration with department of Psychaitry and all patients of depression satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria were studied for the changes in Blood pressure using handgrip test and Orthostatic Hypotensive Test while changes resting heart rate was recorded.

There was increase in heart rate found in depression whereas blood pressure diastolic and systolic were found to be lower than a normal individual.