What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive episode, and intermittent explosive disorder (n=74). Intervention: Psychopathology (PTSD, depression, IED) vs. Non-cases (no mental disorder). Primary outcome: Resting heart rate variability (log RMSSD) (Cohen's d 0.5, p=0.021).

May 10, 2016BMC PsychiatryOpen Access

Heart rate variability and the relationship between trauma exposure age, and psychopathology in a post-conflict setting

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Key result

Resting heart rate variability was significantly reduced in individuals with PTSD, depression, or intermittent explosive disorder compared to healthy controls (Cohen's d 0.5, p=0.021).

Why the study?

Is diminished resting heart rate variability associated with psychopathology and does it mediate the relationship between trauma exposure, age, and distress/aggression?

Population

74 individuals from a community sample in Timor-Leste, including 45 cases of PTSD, depression, and…

Design

Case-control

Authors

BLBelinda J. Liddell AKAndrew H. Kemp ZSZachary Steel

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Reduced resting HRV may mark vulnerability in PTSD and related disorders; leaves open mediation of trauma effects on distress and aggression.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=74)

Structured PICO

Is diminished resting heart rate variability associated with psychopathology and does it mediate the relationship between trauma exposure, age, and distress/aggression?

Population

74 community members from post-conflict Timor-Leste, including 45 with PTSD, depression, or intermittent explosive disorder and 29 healthy controls, assessed for resting heart rate variability.

Comparator

Non-case controls (n=29)

Outcome

Resting state heart rate variability (HRV) and its mediation effect on the association between potentially traumatic events (PTE) exposure, age, and symptoms of PTSD, psychological distress, and aggressive behaviorsurrogate

Main Result

Standardized Mean Difference: 0.5

Absolute Event Rate: 1.46% vs 1.58%

p-value: p=0.021

Diminished resting heart rate variability is associated with psychopathology and may mediate vulnerability to distress and aggression following cumulative trauma exposure.

Limitations

Non-representative sample deliberately weighted towards including a substantial case group
Small numbers in each diagnostic category precluding disorder-specific effects
Comorbid physical medical conditions that impact heart rate were not measured
Cross-sectional nature of the study precludes drawing firm inferences concerning causality
Respiration was not measured, which can interfere with the association between HRV and vagal tone

Cite This Study

Liddell et al. (2016) conducted a cross-sectional in Posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive episode, and intermittent explosive disorder (n=74). Psychopathology (PTSD, depression, IED) vs. Non-cases (no mental disorder) was evaluated on Resting heart rate variability (log RMSSD) (Cohen's d 0.5, p=0.021). Resting heart rate variability was significantly reduced in individuals with PTSD, depression, or intermittent explosive disorder compared to healthy controls (Cohen's d 0.5, p=0.021).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a20271a4f3426e554a1c08e https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-0850-5

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May 10, 2016BMC PsychiatryOpen Access

Heart rate variability and the relationship between trauma exposure age, and psychopathology in a post-conflict setting

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Key result

Resting heart rate variability was significantly reduced in individuals with PTSD, depression, or intermittent explosive disorder compared to healthy controls (Cohen's d 0.5, p=0.021).

Why the study?

Is diminished resting heart rate variability associated with psychopathology and does it mediate the relationship between trauma exposure, age, and distress/aggression?

Population

74 individuals from a community sample in Timor-Leste, including 45 cases of PTSD, depression, and…

Design

Case-control

Authors

BLBelinda J. Liddell AKAndrew H. Kemp ZSZachary Steel

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Reduced resting HRV may mark vulnerability in PTSD and related disorders; leaves open mediation of trauma effects on distress and aggression.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=74)

Structured PICO

Is diminished resting heart rate variability associated with psychopathology and does it mediate the relationship between trauma exposure, age, and distress/aggression?

Population

74 community members from post-conflict Timor-Leste, including 45 with PTSD, depression, or intermittent explosive disorder and 29 healthy controls, assessed for resting heart rate variability.

Comparator

Non-case controls (n=29)

Outcome

Main Result

Standardized Mean Difference: 0.5

Absolute Event Rate: 1.46% vs 1.58%

p-value: p=0.021

Diminished resting heart rate variability is associated with psychopathology and may mediate vulnerability to distress and aggression following cumulative trauma exposure.

Limitations

Non-representative sample deliberately weighted towards including a substantial case group
Small numbers in each diagnostic category precluding disorder-specific effects
Comorbid physical medical conditions that impact heart rate were not measured
Cross-sectional nature of the study precludes drawing firm inferences concerning causality
Respiration was not measured, which can interfere with the association between HRV and vagal tone

Cite This Study

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a20271a4f3426e554a1c08e https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-0850-5

Also Consider

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