title: Contribution of initial heart rate to the prediction of posttraumatic stress symptom level in accident victims.
abstract: Earlier findings of a positive correlation between heart rate (HR) and posttraumatic symptom level have recently been brought into question. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between resting HR and symptom scores of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in physically injured accident survivors, controlling for well established predictors for (PTSD and factors influencing HR. A representative sample of 255 accident victims was assessed measuring PRIME-MD, PDEQ, trauma-related cognitions and CAPS. Initial interviews were conducted five days post trauma; follow-up assessments took place six months later. Heart rate measurements were obtained from surgical files. We found positive bivariate correlations between HR at hospital admission (HRA) and PTSD symptom levels. However, in multiple regression analysis HRA contributed marginally to the prediction of PTSD symptom levels. We conclude that the initial heart rate is a weak and not independent predictor for PTSD symptom level following accidental injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Culmannstrasse 8, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland. bernd.kraemer@usz.ch
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.forename: Hanspeter
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moergeli
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hepp
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schnyder
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*