A multimodal assessment model incorporating clinical variables, heart rate variability, and QEEG beta coherence explained 49.4% of the variance (adjusted R2 = 0.421) in somatic symptom severity among adults with MDD or ADHD.
Cross-Sectional (n=103)
No
Sleep disturbance, female sex, depressive symptoms, lower autonomic flexibility, and disrupted cortical connectivity are significant predictors of somatic symptom severity in adult psychiatric outpatients.
Effect estimate: Adjusted R2 0.421
p-value: p=<0.001
Other Sections Abstract Abstract Objective: To examine the relative contributions of clinical, autonomic, and neurophysiological variables to somatic symptom severity among adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: We analyzed data from 103 outpatients (MDD = 55; ADHD = 48) who completed quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), heart rate variability (HRV), and questionnaires (Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Korean Adult ADHD Rating Scale). Hierarchical regression models sequentially entered demographics, clinical symptoms, HRV total power, and QEEG beta-band coherence. Results: The final model explained 49.4% of the variance (adjusted R 2 = 0.421, p < 0.001). Clinical variables produced the largest increment (ΔR 2 = 0.232, p < 0.001), with sleep disturbance as the strongest predictor (β = 0.359, p < 0.001), followed by female sex (β = 0.256, p = 0.004) and depressive symptoms (β = 0.207, p = 0.031). Lower HRV total power was significantly associated with greater somatic symptom severity (ΔR 2 = 0.026, p = 0.034; β = −0.194, p = 0.020). Reduced QEEG beta coherence added value (ΔR 2 = 0.076, p = 0.048), particularly for right frontofrontal (β = −0.259, p = 0.031) and left frontoparietal (β = −0.245, p = 0.052) connectivity. Primary diagnosis (MDD vs. ADHD) was not predictive ( p = 0.124). Conclusion: Sleep disturbance showed the strongest association with somatic symptoms, followed by female sex and depressive symptoms. Limited role of categorical diagnosis supports a dimensional framework. Reduced autonomic flexibility and disrupted cortical connectivity may underlie bodily distress, warranting confirmation through longitudinal studies. Keywords : Medically unexplained symptoms; Autonomic nervous system; Electroencephalography; Major depressive disorder; Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity
Kim et al. (Wed,) conducted a cross-sectional in Major depressive disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (n=103). Clinical, autonomic (HRV), and neurophysiological (QEEG) assessment was evaluated on Variance in somatic symptom severity (PHQ-15) explained by clinical, autonomic, and neurophysiological variables (Adjusted R2 0.421, p=<0.001). A multimodal assessment model incorporating clinical variables, heart rate variability, and QEEG beta coherence explained 49.4% of the variance (adjusted R2 = 0.421) in somatic symptom severity among adults with MDD or ADHD.