Testing the tripartite model in young adolescents: Is hyperarousal specific for anxiety and not depression?

Greaves-Lord, Kirstin; Ferdinand, Robert F.; Sondeijker, Frouke E.P.L.; Dietrich, Andrea; Oldehinkel, Albertine J.; Rosmalen, Judith G.M.; Ormel, Johan; Verhulst, Frank C.

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2006.12.009

« Previous Next »Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 102, Issue 1 , Pages 55-63, September 2007

Testing the tripartite model in young adolescents: Is hyperarousal specific for anxiety and not depression?

Kirstin Greaves-Lord
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam/Sophia Children's Hospital, Dr. Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Robert F. Ferdinand
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam/Sophia Children's Hospital, Dr. Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry and Graduate School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Groningen, P.O.Box 196, 9700 AD, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author. Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam/ Sophia Children's Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 10 4636671; fax: +31 10 4636803.
Frouke E.P.L. Sondeijker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam/Sophia Children's Hospital, Dr. Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Andrea Dietrich
- Department of Psychiatry and Graduate School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Groningen, P.O.Box 196, 9700 AD, Groningen, The Netherlands
Albertine J. Oldehinkel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam/Sophia Children's Hospital, Dr. Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry and Graduate School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Groningen, P.O.Box 196, 9700 AD, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Graduate School for Experimental Psychopathology, P.O. Box 30 001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands
Judith G.M. Rosmalen
- Department of Psychiatry and Graduate School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Groningen, P.O.Box 196, 9700 AD, Groningen, The Netherlands
Johan Ormel
- Department of Psychiatry and Graduate School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Groningen, P.O.Box 196, 9700 AD, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Graduate School for Experimental Psychopathology, P.O. Box 30 001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands
Frank C. Verhulst
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam/Sophia Children's Hospital, Dr. Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Received 22 May 2006; received in revised form 7 December 2006; accepted 8 December 2006.

Abstract

Background

To clarify the distinction between anxiety and depression, the tripartite model was introduced. According to this model, physiological hyperarousal (PH, i.e. autonomic hyperactivity) is specific for anxiety and not depression. Research on the relation between anxiety, depression and physiological measures representing arousal is lacking.

Methods

Parent- and self-reported anxiety and depressive problems were assessed using the CBCL and RCADS. Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability in the low frequency (HRV LF) and respiratory sinus arrythmia (RSA) were used as indices for autonomic arousal.

Results

Parent-reported anxiety was associated with low RSA in supine posture. This association was also found for self-reported anxiety problems, but only in boys. These findings point towards high arousal in anxiety. Self-reported depressive problems were associated with low HRV LF in standing posture and high RSA in supine posture in boys, pointing towards low arousal in depression. However, self-reported depressive problems were also associated with high HR in standing posture and with low HRV LF in supine posture in girls, suggesting high arousal in depression.

Limitations

Although HRV LF in standing posture is primarily sympathetically mediated, and HRV LF in supine posture is primarily vagally mediated, the association between HRV LF and sympathetic versus vagal function is not exclusive. Thus, HRV LF measures are merely approaches of high or low arousal.

Conclusions

Some evidence was found for hyperarousal in anxiety, but also for hyperarousal in depression. Apparently, the idea of hyperarousal in anxiety and not in depression is too simple to reflect the more complex reality.

Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Physiological hyperarousal, Autonomic functioning, Young adolescents