Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Pilot Study.
Summary of "Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Pilot Study."
Exposure to combat experiences is associated with increased risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy have garnered a significant amount of empirical support for PTSD treatment; however, they are not universally effective with some patients continuing to struggle with residual PTSD symptoms. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of the autonomic nervous system functioning and reflects an individual's ability to adaptively cope with stress. A pilot study was undertaken to determine if veterans with PTSD (as measured by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale and the PTSD Checklist) would show significantly different HRV prior to an intervention at baseline compared to controls; specifically, to determine whether the HRV among veterans with PTSD is more depressed than that among veterans without PTSD. The study also aimed at assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of providing HRV biofeedback as a treatment for PTSD. The findings suggest that implementing an HRV biofeedback as a treatment for PTSD is effective, feasible, and acceptable for veterans. Veterans with combat-related PTSD displayed significantly depressed HRV as compared to subjects without PTSD. When the veterans with PTSD were randomly assigned to receive either HRV biofeedback plus treatment as usual (TAU) or just TAU, the results indicated that HRV biofeedback significantly increased the HRV while reducing symptoms of PTSD. However, the TAU had no significant effect on either HRV or symptom reduction. A larger randomized control trial to validate these findings appears warranted.
Affiliation
Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affair Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback
ISSN: 1573-3270
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20680439
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10484-010-9141-y
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Heart Rate, Fetal
The heart rate of the FETUS. The normal range at term is between 120 and 160 beats per minute.
Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute
A class of traumatic stress disorders that is characterized by the significant dissociative states seen immediately after overwhelming trauma. By definition it cannot last longer than 1 month, if it persists, a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (STRESS DISORDERS, POST-TRAUMATIC) is more appropriate.
Heart, Artificial
A pumping mechanism that duplicates the output, rate, and blood pressure of the natural heart. It may replace the function of the entire heart or a portion of it, and may be an intracorporeal, extracorporeal, or paracorporeal heart. (Dorland, 28th ed)
Pilot Projects
Small-scale tests of methods and procedures to be used on a larger scale if the pilot study demonstrates that these methods and procedures can work.
Echocardiography, Stress
A method of recording heart motion and internal structures by combining ultrasonic imaging with exercise testing (EXERCISE TEST) or pharmacologic stress.
PubMed Articles
Posttraumatic growth in exposure therapy for PTSD.
This study aims to increase our understanding of trauma positive outcomes by (a) exploring associations between posttraumatic growth and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and (b) investigating pos...
Are we winning the war against posttraumatic stress disorder?
The most methodologically rigorous epidemiological study on American military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan found that 4.3% of troops developed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among...
This study explored whether peritraumatic distress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are curvilinearly related to posttraumatic growth in victims of violence several years after victim...
This study examined the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in reducing behaviors commonly used as exclusion criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment. The sample included...
Treatment of nightmares in the context of posttraumatic stress disorder.
Nightmares are a common feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and are frequently resistant to treatment. Two emerging treatments for nightmares are pharmacotherapy with prazosin and psychoth...
Clinical Trials
D-cycloserine Adjunctive Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Adolescents
The purpose of this study is to show whether D-cycloserine in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is more effective than CBT alone to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stres...
The present study is a randomized, controlled trial that compares Behavioral Activation (BA), to Usual VA Care (UC) as early psychotherapeutic interventions for OIF/OEF veterans with postt...
Effect of D-cycloserine on Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Youth
The purpose of this study is to show whether D-cycloserine in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is more effective than CBT alone to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stres...
Open Trial of Escitalopram Treatment for Male Subjects With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
The primary aim of this pilot study is to test the efficacy of the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, Escitalopram, in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in an ope...
Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) With Early Hydrocortisone Treatment: Pilot
People experience a wide range of outcomes following a traumatic event. Although rates differ depending on type of trauma, 20-60% of trauma victims may develop posttraumatic stress disord...
