HEART RATE VARIABILITY AS AN OBJECTIVE CRITERION FOR THE PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STATE OF COMBATANTS

The aim: To evaluate the functioning of the autonomic nervous system in combatants, the relationship between the heat rate variability (HRV) and ques¬tionnaire indicators, to improve the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to evaluate the effectiveness of Transcendental Meditation (TM).

Materials and methods: 57 combatants and 30 civilians, with registering ECG and HRV-analysis, self-questionnaire testing.

Results: The combatants' group showed an increase in heart rate, in the degree of centralisation of heart rate control and the R. Bayevsky stress index, a decrease in the total HRV value. PTSD score was negatively correlated with pNN50. The indicator «Stress» (by DASS-21), revealed negative relationships with the TP, (LF+HF), RMSSD, HF, HFn. The effects of TM on HRV are to save the work of the cardiovascular system (reduced heart rate), reduce the level of nervous and emotional stress, increase the overall adaptation reserve. After TM, the HRV spectrum retains the same proportions of very low, low, and high frequencies as in the baseline state.

Conclusions: The study objectively proved the presence of neuro-emotional stress and depletion of autonomic regulation reserves in combatants, both by questionnaire surveys and HRV analysis. The high level of correlation between HRV and questionnaire indicators gives grounds for the introduction of HRV analysis for the initial assessment of the psycho-emotional state and tracking its dynamics, as well as for assessing the effectiveness of its correction. Our use of TM has confirmed its effectiveness in correcting the psycho-emotional state.