Resting high frequency heart rate variability and PTSD symptomatology in Veterans: Effects of respiration, role in elevated heart rate, and extension to spouses

•Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with low resting heart rate variability (HRV).•However, the role of respiration in this association has not been determined in prior research.•In 65 U.S. Veterans, clinically diagnosed PTSD was associated with lower high-frequency HRV.•This associa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychology 2020-07, Vol.154, p.107928-107928, Article 107928
Main Authors: Smith, Timothy W., Deits-Lebehn, Carlene, Caska-Wallace, Catherine M., Renshaw, Keith D., Uchino, Bert N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Couples
Female
Heart Rate
High frequency heart rate variability
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
PTSD
Respiration
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia
Rest
Spouses - psychology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - physiopathology
Vagal tone
Veterans - psychology
Young Adult
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Summary:•Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with low resting heart rate variability (HRV).•However, the role of respiration in this association has not been determined in prior research.•In 65 U.S. Veterans, clinically diagnosed PTSD was associated with lower high-frequency HRV.•This association held while controlling respiration, but was not seen in Veterans’ spouses.•In mediational analyses, low HRV accounted for elevated resting heart rate in PTSD. Heart rate variability (HRV) associated with parasympathetic activity (i.e., cardiac vagal tone) is reduced in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but possible confounding effects of respiration have not been studied sufficiently. Further, reduced parasympathetic inhibition might contribute to elevated heart rate (HR) in PTSD. Finally, reduced HRV in PTSD might extend to intimate partners, given their chronic stress exposure. In 65 couples (male Veterans, female partners), elevated PTSD symptomatology (n = 32; 28 met full DSM IV criteria, 4 fell slightly short) was documented by structured interview and self-reports. Baseline HR, high-frequency HRV (HF-HRV), cardiac pre-ejection period (PEP), and respiration rate and depth were measured via impedance cardiography. Veterans with PTSD symptoms displayed reduced lnHF-HRV, even when adjusting for respiration, but their partners did not. In mediational analyses, elevated resting HR in PTSD was accounted for by lnHF-HRV but not PEP. Results strengthen evidence regarding HF-HRV and elevated HR in PTSD.
ISSN:0301-0511
1873-6246
DOI:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2020.107928