HRV measurement not predictive of depression symptoms or improvement: a case report

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if HRV measurements could predict depression, predict depression treatment outcomes, and determine the resolution of depression symptoms for an individual. Ventral vagus nerve treatment for depression consisted of body techniques as well as the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP). Symptoms of major depression were significantly improved after body techniques as well as the SSP. However, no significant differences were found for HR, RMSSD, LF, HF, and the LF/HF ratio. As such, HRV measurements for this client did not predict depression, predict treatment outcomes, nor determine the resolution of depression symptoms. This case highlights that the large differences found in the HRV measurement means of clients experiencing depression versus healthy controls make it very difficult for an individual treatment provider to predict a client’s mental health status, predict a client’s treatment outcomes, or determine if treatment was successful for their client. Additionally, it has been suggested that differences in HR and HF readings are superior indexes of within-subject differences. However, comparing HF and HR readings for this individual also did not predict treatment outcomes.

Keywords

• Heart rate variability
• polyvagal theory
• ventral vagal
• depression
• treatment