Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2025 Feb;23(1):155-160. 10.9758/cpn.24.1210.

Educational Level Modifies the Relationship between Standard Deviation of NN Intervals and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Development over Two-years

• Yoo JM
• Kim JW
• Kang HJ
• Jang H
• Kim JC
• Lee JY
• Kim SW
• Shin IS
• Kim JM

• KMID: 2565669
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.24.1210

Abstract

Objective
This study investigated how educational levels modify the relationship between the standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN) of heart rate variability and the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Methods
Participants with physical injuries were enrolled from a trauma center and monitored over two years. Initial assessments included SDNN and educational attainment, along with socio-demographic and clinical variables. PTSD diagnoses were made at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-injury using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5. Logistic regression analyses were conducted.
Results
Of the 538 participants, 58 (10.8%) developed PTSD during the follow-up period. A significant interaction effect was observed: lower SDNN was significantly linked to PTSD in individuals with higher education, but not in those with lower education.
Conclusion
The study identified education-dependent associations between SDNN and PTSD development, emphasizing the importance of tailored PTSD prevention strategies that consider both SDNN and educational levels.

Keyword

Stress disorders, post-traumatic; Education; Heart rate variability; SDNN; Longitudinal studies