US Marine Corps HRV Analysis Using VivoSense®

In one of the largest studies of active duty combat troops ever conducted Heart Rate Variability (HRV) has been shown to be lowered in post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD.

Researchers at UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry, used VivoSense software to study the way in which #HRV is lowered under combat conditions and the possible relationship to #PTSD

Minassian, A., Geyer, M.A., Baker, D.G., Nievergelt, C.M., O’Connor, D.T., & Risbrough, V.B. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) characteristics in a large group of active-duty Marines and relationship to posttraumatic stress. Psychosomatic Medicine 2014; 76:292-301.

Heart rate variability (HRV), thought to reflect autonomic nervous system function, is lowered under conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The potential confounding effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and depression in the relationship between HRV and PTSD have not been elucidated in a large cohort of military service members (n=2430). Here we describe HRV associations with stress disorder symptoms in a large study of Marines while accounting for well-known covariates of HRV and PTSD including TBI and depression.