Background
Invisible wounds of war such as posttraumatic stress (PTS) account for a huge burden of disease for US military veterans. Studies have shown that 13.5% of deployed and non-deployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans screened positive for PTS while this number is estimated to be as high as 25% among Vietnam veterans. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) training has shown promise in aiding this population. HRV, which is a proxy measurement of nervous system health, is an important indicator of well-being, fitness, and stress resilience. While there have been many studies that have illustrated the benefits of HRV training for those coping with emotional distress, there is a lack of robust research exploring the benefits of training in group sessions versus individual sessions.

Methods
Enrollment will consist of 60 US military veterans, aged 20-75, who are proficient English speakers and have at least one invisible wound of war including PTS. HRV trends with be monitored using wearable devices. HRV data will be individually correlated to each participant’s baseline HRV prior to training. Training will occur either one-on-one with a certified HRV coach, or in a group setting led by the same HRV coach. The following outcome measures will be collected before and after coaching: Stress and Well-Being Assessment (SWBA), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, NIH PROMIS Global Health Short Form, and the NIH NeuroQOL Cognitive Function Index.

Results
We anticipate our group-trained cohort will have a greater degree of improvement from baseline, as reflected in the standardized index scores, when compared to our individually trained cohort. This idea is supported by prior studies illustrating the synergistic improvements in HRV seen in group settings which has been referred to as social coherence.

Conclusion
Providing veterans suffering from invisible wounds of war with tools to manage their overall stress is of great benefit to society. We hope that the results of this study can be used to guide future implementation of this non-invasive, easily accessible, evidence-based, and cost-effective intervention in groups that may be suffering from invisible wounds such as healthcare professionals. 


Heart Rate Variability in US Military Veterans: The Power of Teams

Clinical and Translational Research | Psychiatry

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Welcome to the largest national, multi-specialty research event featuring research from 750 medical students, residents and fellows, and international medical graduates.


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Heart Rate Variability in US Military Veterans: The Power of Teams

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