Preliminary findings of the relationship of lower heart rate variability with military sexual trauma and presumed posttraumatic stress disorder.

Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) occurs with physical and psychological disorders and is a predictor of cardiac and all-cause mortality. This study was the first of which we are aware to examine and report the relationship between military sexual trauma (MST) and HRV measures. In a historical cohort study of female veterans with (n = 27) and without (n = 99) MST who received Holter and electrocardiogram evaluation at a Veteran Affairs medical center during 2007-2010, we examined the relationship between MST and the standard deviation of all R-R intervals (SDNN) and the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent R-R intervals (RMSSD).

Lower heart rate variability associated with military sexual trauma rape and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Low heart rate variability (HRV) can occur with psychological disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to examine the association between PTSD by trauma type and decreased HRV measures in female veterans with cardiac symptoms. This secondary analysis utilized data from a previous study of female veterans (n = 125) examined for cardiac symptoms by Holter and electrocardiogram recordings at a Veterans Affairs medical center.