Heart rate variability and the relationship between trauma exposure age, and psychopathology in a post-conflict setting

Belinda J Liddell, Andrew H Kemp, Zachary Steel, Angela Nickerson, Richard A Bryant, Natalino Tam, Alvin Kuowei Tay, Derrick Silove, Belinda J Liddell, Andrew H Kemp, Zachary Steel, Angela Nickerson, Richard A Bryant, Natalino Tam, Alvin Kuowei Tay, Derrick Silove

Abstract

Background: Cumulative exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) increases risk for mental distress in conflict-affected settings, but the psychophysiological mechanisms that mediate this dose-response relationship are unknown. We investigated diminished heart rate variability (HRV) - an index of vagus nerve function and a robust predictor of emotion regulation capacity - as a vulnerability marker that potentially mediates the association between PTE exposure, age and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychological distress and aggressive behavior, in a community sample from Timor-Leste - a post-conflict country with a history of mass violence.

Method: Resting state heart rate data was recorded from 45 cases of PTSD, depression and intermittent explosive disorder (IED); and 29 non-case controls.

Results: Resting HRV was significantly reduced in the combined case group compared with non-cases (p = .021; Cohen's d = 0.5). A significant mediation effect was also observed, whereby a sequence of increased age, reduced HRV and elevated PTSD symptoms mediated the association between PTE exposure and distress (B = .06, SE = .05, 95% CI = [.00-.217]) and aggression (B = .02, SE = .02, 95% CI = [.0003-.069])).

Conclusion: The findings demonstrate an association between diminished resting HRV and psychopathology. Moreover, age-related HRV reductions emerged as a potential psychophysiological mechanism that underlies enhanced vulnerability to distress and aggression following cumulative PTE exposure.

Keywords: Age; Aggression; Depression; East Timor; Heart rate variability (HRV); Post-conflict; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Potentially traumatic event (PTE); Timor-Leste; Trauma.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mediation models testing the association between PTE exposure and a PTSD symptoms; b psychological distress symptoms and c aggressive behavior as a function of age and HRV. Thick lines indicate significant direct or indirect serial pathways. Effects sizes (standard errors) are presented for each path; * p < .05; ** p < .01; *** p < .001. The covariate of sex was not significantly associated with any of the variables in the model
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mediation models testing the association between PTE exposure and symptoms of psychological distress (left) and aggressive behavior (right) via indirect age, HRV and PTSD symptom serial pathways. Thick lines indicate significant direct or indirect pathways. Effects sizes (standard errors) are presented for each path; * p < .05; ** p < .01; *** p < .001. The covariate of sex was not significantly associated with any of the variables in the model

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