Background and Objective: Heart rate variability is an indicator of autonomic cardiac control. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether depressive symptoms can influence heart rate variability. Methods: Heart rate variability was measured in 22 untreated outpatients with depression (16 f, 6 m) and in 11 healthy controls (8 f, 3 m). Moreover, 41 patients with coronary artery disease diagnosed by means of coronary angiography (5 f, 36 m) were investigated. Results: Heart rate variability was found to be reduced by 50% in depressed patients without heart disease compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05) but was not influenced by the presence of depressive symptoms in patients with coronary artery disease. Conclusions: Disturbed autonomic cardiac control was evidenced in depressed patients without coronary disease.