Heart rate responses to parental behavior in depressed adolescents

► We examined clinically depressed and non-depressed adolescents heart rate responses to their parents' negative emotional behavior. ► Maternal angry and dysphoric behavior predicted heart rate deceleration amongst non-depressed adolescents, a response that was not observed in depressed adolescents. ► Fathers' angry behavior predicted significant heart rate acceleration in depressed (but not non-depressed) adolescents. ► These findings suggest that reactivity in adolescent depression is characterized by the absence of a normative orienting response toward aversive maternal behaviors, and a defensive physiological response to aggressive paternal behavior.