Loss of Efferent Vagal Activity in Acute Schizophrenia

Increased heart rate has been reported in schizophrenia. It is unclear whether this is due to disease-related autonomic nervous system changes or a side effect of antipsychotic medication. Altered cardiac autonomic function might to some extent account for the elevated cardiovascular mortality rate of schizophrenic patients. We assessed heart rate variability (HRV) in 30 acute unmedicated schizophrenic patients and matched controls. Patients were re-investigated 2–4 days after initiation of treatment to assess effects of medication. Our study demonstrates that schizophrenic patients were significantly different…