Photoplethysmographic Waveform Analysis for Autonomic Reactivity Assessment in Depression

Objective: In the present study, a photoplethysmographic (PPG) waveform analysis for assessing differences in autonomic reactivity to mental stress between patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and healthy control (HC) subjects is presented. xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Methods: PPG recordings of 40 MDD HC were acquired at basal conditions, during execution cognitive tasks, post-task relaxation period. pulses are decomposed into three waves (a main wave two reflected waves) using pulse decomposition analysis. Pulse characteristics such as time delay position waves, percentage amplitude loss heart rate (HR) calculated among others. The intra-subject difference feature value conditions used an index reactivity. xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Results: Statistically significant individual from recovery found HR second ( $A_{13}$ ) both group. However, indices related reached higher values than (Cohen's notation="LaTeX">${d=\!-0.81},{\,\text {AUC}=0.74}$ ), implying that response depressed reduced. A statistically notation="LaTeX">$p \,<\, 0.001$ negative correlation notation="LaTeX">$r=-0.5$ depression severity scores was found. xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Conclusion: decreased associated degree depression. xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Significance: Stress quantification by dynamic changes morphology can be aid diagnosis monitoring