title: Heart rate variability: Pre-deployment predictor of post-deployment PTSD symptoms.
abstract: Heart rate variability is a physiological measure associated with autonomic nervous system activity. This study hypothesized that lower pre-deployment HRV would be associated with higher post-deployment post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Three-hundred-forty-three Army National Guard soldiers enrolled in the Warriors Achieving Resilience (WAR) study were analyzed. The primary outcome was PTSD symptom severity using the PTSD Checklist - Military version (PCL) measured at baseline, 3- and 12-month post-deployment. Heart rate variability predictor variables included: high frequency power (HF) and standard deviation of the normal cardiac inter-beat interval (SDNN). Generalized linear mixed models revealed that the pre-deployment PCL*ln(HF) interaction term was significant (p<0.0001). Pre-deployment SDNN was not a significant predictor of post-deployment PCL. Covariates included age, pre-deployment PCL, race/ethnicity, marital status, tobacco use, childhood abuse, pre-deployment traumatic brain injury, and previous combat zone deployment. Pre-deployment heart rate variability predicts post-deployment PTSD symptoms in the context of higher pre-deployment PCL scores.
authors: Center for Mental Health Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, 72114, United States; South Central Mental Illness Education and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, 72114, United States; Division of Health Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States. Electronic address: jmpyne@uams.edu.
authors: Jeffrey M
authors: JM
authors: Pyne
authors: South Central Mental Illness Education and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, 72114, United States; Southeastern Louisiana Veterans Health Care System (629/11F), PO Box 61011, New Orleans, LA 70161, United States, United States; Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States.
authors: Joseph I
authors: JI
authors: Constans
authors: Virtual Reality Medical Centers, 9565 Waples Street, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92121, United States.
authors: Mark D
authors: MD
authors: Wiederhold
authors: Office of the State Surgeon, Virginia Army National Guard, BLDG 1310, Ft. Pickett, Blackstone VA, 23824, United States.
authors: Douglas P
authors: DP
authors: Gibson
authors: Center for Mental Health Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, 72114, United States; South Central Mental Illness Education and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, 72114, United States.
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Kimbrell
authors: Division of Health Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States.
authors: Teresa L
authors: TL
authors: Kramer
authors: Center for Mental Health Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, 72114, United States.
authors: Jeffery A
authors: JA
authors: Pitcock
authors: Center for Mental Health Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, 72114, United States; South Central Mental Illness Education and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, 72114, United States; Division of Health Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States.
authors: Xiaotong
authors: X
authors: Han
authors: Department of Biostatistics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States.
authors: D Keith
authors: DK
authors: Williams
authors: Ease interactive, Inc., San Diego, CA, United States.
authors: Don
authors: D
authors: Chartrand
authors: Alliant International University, 10455 Pomerado Road, San Diego, CA 92131, United States.
authors: Richard N
authors: RN
authors: Gevirtz
authors: National Center for PTSD, US Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Hawaii School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI 96819, United States.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Spira
authors: Virtual Reality Medical Centers, 9565 Waples Street, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92121, United States.
authors: Brenda K
authors: BK
authors: Wiederhold
authors: Institute of HeartMath, 14700 West Park Ave., Boulder Creek, CA 95006, United States.
authors: Rollin
authors: R
authors: McCraty
authors: Office of the State Surgeon, Virginia Army National Guard, BLDG 1310, Ft. Pickett, Blackstone VA, 23824, United States.
authors: Thomas R
authors: TR
authors: McCune
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); combat stress; heart rate variability; longitudinal; military; prediction; risk factors