Skip to main content

Association of depressive and anxiety symptoms with 24-hour urinary catecholamines in individuals with untreated high blood pressure.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Paine, NJ; Watkins, LL; Blumenthal, JA; Kuhn, CM; Sherwood, A
Published in: Psychosom Med
2015

OBJECTIVE: Depression and anxiety are considered risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The explanatory mechanisms, however, are still to be characterized. One proposed pathophysiological pathway is dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, including heightened sympathetic nervous system activity. This study examined the relationship between symptoms of depression, anxiety, and sympathetic nervous system activity in individuals with untreated high blood pressure. METHODS: A total of 140 participants with untreated high blood pressure (55% white, 38.5% female, mean [standard deviation] age = 45.5 [8.55] years) collected urine over a 24-hour period on 3 separate occasions. Urine samples were assayed for mean 24-hour epinephrine (EPI24) and norepinephrine excretion. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory, with anxiety symptoms assessed using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. RESULTS: Depression and anxiety scores were intercorrelated (r = 0.76, p < .001). EPI24 was positively correlated with anxiety (r = 0.20, p = .02) but not depression (r = 0.02, p = .77), whereas 24-hour urinary norepinephrine excretion was not correlated with anxiety (r = 0.10, p = .21) or with depression (r = 0.07, p = .39). Regression models, accounting for sex, age, body mass index, race, mean systolic ambulatory blood pressure, tobacco use, alcohol use, physical activity, and sleep efficiency confirmed that anxiety was associated with EPI24 excretion (p = .023) and that depressive symptoms were not (p = .54). CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety was associated with heightened sympathoadrenal activity, suggesting a biological pathway through which anxiety could increase CVD risk. Anxiety and depression may confer increased CVD risk via different mechanisms.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Psychosom Med

DOI

EISSN

1534-7796

Publication Date

2015

Volume

77

Issue

2

Start / End Page

136 / 144

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Norepinephrine
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Hypertension
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Epinephrine
  • Depression
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Paine, N. J., Watkins, L. L., Blumenthal, J. A., Kuhn, C. M., & Sherwood, A. (2015). Association of depressive and anxiety symptoms with 24-hour urinary catecholamines in individuals with untreated high blood pressure. Psychosom Med, 77(2), 136–144. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000144
Paine, Nicola J., Lana L. Watkins, James A. Blumenthal, Cynthia M. Kuhn, and Andrew Sherwood. “Association of depressive and anxiety symptoms with 24-hour urinary catecholamines in individuals with untreated high blood pressure.Psychosom Med 77, no. 2 (2015): 136–44. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000144.
Paine NJ, Watkins LL, Blumenthal JA, Kuhn CM, Sherwood A. Association of depressive and anxiety symptoms with 24-hour urinary catecholamines in individuals with untreated high blood pressure. Psychosom Med. 2015;77(2):136–44.
Paine, Nicola J., et al. “Association of depressive and anxiety symptoms with 24-hour urinary catecholamines in individuals with untreated high blood pressure.Psychosom Med, vol. 77, no. 2, 2015, pp. 136–44. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000144.
Paine NJ, Watkins LL, Blumenthal JA, Kuhn CM, Sherwood A. Association of depressive and anxiety symptoms with 24-hour urinary catecholamines in individuals with untreated high blood pressure. Psychosom Med. 2015;77(2):136–144.

Published In

Psychosom Med

DOI

EISSN

1534-7796

Publication Date

2015

Volume

77

Issue

2

Start / End Page

136 / 144

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Norepinephrine
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Hypertension
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Epinephrine
  • Depression