Differences in heart rate and blood pressure in children with conduct disorder, major depression, and separation anxiety.

Heart rate and blood pressure of children and adolescents admitted to a psychiatric hospital were compared among those diagnosed conduct disorder, major depressive disorder, and separation anxiety disorder. Subjects with conduct disorder had a lower heart rate compared to subjects without a conduct disorder diagnosis; and subjects with separation anxiety disorder had higher heart rate and systolic blood pressure compared to subjects without an anxiety disorder diagnosis. Subjects with major depressive disorder had higher systolic blood pressure than subjects with conduct disorder but no difference in heart rate. The findings are consistent with conduct disorder being associated with decreased noradrenergic function and anxiety/depressive disorder being associated with increased noradrenergic function.