Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with changes in autonomic nervous system (ANS) and cognitive impairment.\nHeart rate variability (HRV) and Pulse pressure (PP) parameters reflect influences of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous\nsystem. Cortisol exerts its greatest effect on the hippocampus, a brain area closely related to cognitive function. This study aims to\nexamine the effect of HRV, PPG, salivary cortisol levels, and cognitive function in MDD patients by using noninvasive techniques.\nWe have recruited MDD patients, diagnosed based on DSM-V-TR criteria compared with healthy control subjects. Their HRV\nand PP were measured by electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmography (PPG). Salivary cortisol levels were collected and\nmeasured on the same day.MDD patients exhibited elevated values of mean HR, standard deviation of HR (SDHR), low frequency\n(LF) power, low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio, mean PP, standard deviation of pulse pressure (SDPP), and salivary\ncortisol levels. Simultaneously, they displayed lower values ofmean of R-R intervals (meanNN), standard deviation of R-R intervals\n(SDNN), high frequency (HF) power, and WCST scores. Results have shown that the ANS of MDD patients were dominated by\nthe sympathetic activity and that they have cognitive deficits especially in the domain of executive functioning.
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