Pattern of Heart Rate Variability in Somatoform Disorder and Its Association with Anxiety level: An Analytical Study

Background: Somatoform disorder (SD), nowadays considered as the most frequent psychiatric diagnosis in general practice has strong association with anxiety. Though there are a handful of studies showing heart Rate variability (HRV) in SD patients, as such no studies according to author’s knowledge had been addressed to the anxiety component hidden in the SD patients applying HRV tests so far. Aims: Aim of the current study was assess the presence and extent of Heart rate variability in SD patients and to find out it’s possible relationship with their anxiety level. Materials and Methods: An analytical observational cross-sectional study was done among fifty newly diagnosed somatoform disorder patients of eighteen to forty years age attending Psychiatry OPD and fifty age and sex matched healthy control. After assessing their anxiety level using State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Short term Heart rate Variability tests were performed. Appropriate Statistical tests were applied using SPSS 20 version. Results: The SD patients showed reduced heart rate variability as SDNN and RMSDD were less, LF and LF/HF ratio were more in them than controls and significant differences were there. Both SAS and TAS scores were more in cases and there was positive correlation of TAS score with LF and LF/HF ratios. Conclusions: The results of this study actually set an alarm for controlling their symptoms as well as their hidden anxiety underneath, as reduced HRV poses the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and hidden anxiety has influence on heart rate variability.