IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMPLEX TREATMENT OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDERS IN MILITARY COMBATANTS VIA BIOLOGICAL FEEDBACK TRAININGS USING SYSTOLIC WAVE AMPLITUDES

Relevance. Necessity for enhancement of therapeutic approaches to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using a modern high-tech biofeedback.

Intention. Scientific foundation for using biofeedback training in complex therapy of PTSD in combatants.

Methodology. Military men, 40 healthy and 36 PTSD, aged 33.2 and 34.8 years, respectively (p > 0.05) were examined. Neurology signs were estimated with “Neurotic disorders-questionnaire-symptomatic”, quality of life – with “Quality of life questionnaire-12”, PTSD signs – with “Mississippi scale”. Stress-testing and biofeedback training were carried out using “Reacor” biofeedback psychophysiological hardware.

Results and Discussion. Inverse correlations were revealed between PTSD signs and systolic wave amplitudes (SWA) from digital photoplethysmogram during stress-testing with biofeedback psychophysiological hardware. Heart rate variability and breathing recursion used in foreign studies as biofeedback training parameters for this disorder treatment didn’t correlate with signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. The effectiveness of SWA biofeedback training for PTSD complex treatment in combatants was proved. Everyday trainings during 8–10 days statistically significantly reduced neurotic manifestations and improved self-rating of life quality regarding “mental health”.

Conclusion. SWA is a prognostic marker within health – illness continuum and can be used as a sensitive physiological parameter in the biofeedback trainings for overcoming PTSD. Conscious involvement of combatants into a treatment process via inclusion of SWA biofeedback trainings in PTSD complex treatment improves the results and self-ratings of life quality.

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