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Autonomic dysfunction is seen in disorders of the stress response, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but is this a risk factor or a consequence of the disorder? Investigators obtained a 5-minute measure of heart rate variability (HRV; the ratio of low- to high-frequency heart rate) in Marine and Navy servicemen before deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan: 1415 were reassessed 6 months after their return (Group 1) and 745 were reassessed 4 to 5 months after returning (Group 2).
The postdeployment prevalence of new-onset PTSD was 4.2% in Group 1 and 3.4% in Group 2. Analyses controlled for deployment-related stressors and other factors. Baseline lower HRV (but not individual low- and high-frequency heart rates) significantly increase…