Associations of Resting Heart Rate and Intelligence With General and Specific Psychopathology: A Prospective Population Study of 899,398 Swedish Men

Abstract

We examined longitudinal associations of resting heart rate (RHR) and general intelligence (IQ) with two psychopathology models (correlated factors and general factor model). RHR and IQ were measured during conscription (mean age = 18.23 years; N = 899,398 Swedish males). A correlated factors model of register-based outcomes (including 10 psychiatric diagnoses, criminal convictions, and prescription of anxiolytic medications; mean age at follow-up = 43.09 years) identified internalizing, externalizing, and psychotic dimensions; the general factor model additionally identified a general dimension. All correlated factors were inversely associated with IQ; however, the general factor model showed that several of these associations were attributable to general variance rather than specific variance. In both psychopathology models, RHR weakly but significantly predicted higher internalizing but lower externalizing problems. Intelligence might be a transdiagnostic risk factor for any form of psychopathology, and the internalizing and externalizing spectra might be differentiated by psychobiological processes related to sensitivity to punishment.

Occupational Depression, Cognitive Performance, and Task Appreciation: A Study Based on Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices

“…Our findings underline the utility of combining variable-and person-centered approaches in depression research. Our results dovetail with those pertaining to the link between clinical depression and neuropsychological impairment (Snyder, 2013;Rock et al, 2014;Ahern and Semkovska, 2017;Semkovska et al, 2019;Pettersson et al, 2021).…”

“…In so doing, our goal was to learn more about the criterion validity of the ODI. In light of the well-established link between clinical depression and neuropsychological impairment ( Snyder, 2013 ; Rock et al, 2014 ; Ahern and Semkovska, 2017 ; Semkovska et al, 2019 ; Pettersson et al, 2021 ), and considering that individuals with depressive symptoms are more likely to feel helpless under challenging circumstances ( Seligman, 1975 ; Pryce et al, 2011 ), we hypothesized that occupational depression would be associated with (a) poorer cognitive performance and (b) a darkened appreciation of the task undertaken.…”

“…Regarding information selection and construction, there is ample evidence that depressive symptoms are associated with so-called biases in favor of “negative” information (or to the detriment of “positive” information) at the levels of attention, interpretation, and memory ( Everaert et al, 2014 ; Bianchi and Laurent, 2015 ; Bianchi and Schonfeld, 2016 ; Bianchi et al, 2018 ; Bianchi and da Silva Nogueira, 2019 ; LeMoult and Gotlib, 2019 ). Regarding processing efficacy, depression has been associated with pervasive impairment, for instance, at the level of executive functions ( Snyder, 2013 ; Rock et al, 2014 ; Ahern and Semkovska, 2017 ; Semkovska et al, 2019 ; Pettersson et al, 2021 ). These findings are consistent with the difficulties in concentration and decision-making frequently reported by depressed patients in clinical settings as well as with the fact that cognitive impairment constitutes a diagnostic criterion for major depressive disorder ( American Psychiatric Association, 2013 ).…”

“…Investigating the criterion validity of the ODI in relation to cognitive functioning appears to be particularly relevant given that, as mentioned above, cognitive alterations are assumed to play a mediating role in the relationship between clinical depression and psychosocial impairment, notably from the standpoint of worker performance ( McIntyre et al, 2013 ; Lam et al, 2014 ; Pan et al, 2019 ). In light of the well-established link between clinical depression and neuropsychological impairment ( Snyder, 2013 ; Rock et al, 2014 ; Ahern and Semkovska, 2017 ; Semkovska et al, 2019 ; Pettersson et al, 2021 ), and considering that individuals with depressive symptoms are more likely to feel helpless under challenging circumstances ( Seligman, 1975 ; Pryce et al, 2011 ), we hypothesized that occupational depression would be associated with poorer cognitive performance and a darkened appreciation of the task undertaken. Learning more about the criterion validity of the ODI is important in order to further estimate the (practical) utility of the instrument for occupational health specialists.…”

Are genetic and environmental risk factors for psychopathology amplified in children with below-average intelligence? A population-based twin study.

“…Intelligence is negatively correlated with psychopathology (Dietz et al 1997;Pettersson et al 2021) and this negative association is a source of concern for children with intellectual disability. The association implies a double disadvantage: the intellectual disability itself, and a higher risk of psychopathology.…”