Heart Rate Variability Indices as Possible Biomarkers for the Severity of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Following Pregnancy Loss.

ABSTRACT: Background: Psychological distress, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is commonly evaluated using subjective questionnaires, a method prone to self-report bias. The study's working hypothesis was that levels of autonomic dysfunction determined by heart rate variability (HRV) measures are associated with the severity of PTSD in women following pregnancy loss. Methods: This was an observational prospective cohort study with 53 patients enrolled. The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) PTSD scale (PCL-5) was used to assess the severity of PTSD in women after pregnancy loss. The cardiac autonomic function was assessed using HRV measurements during a deep breathing test using an HRV scanner system with wireless ECG enabling real-time data anal

SUBMITTER: de Faria Cardoso C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8763675 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature