Combatants show signs of autonomic dysfunction, including elevated heart rate, reduced heart rate variability (HRV), and increased stress indices, compared to civilians. PTSD symptom severity correlated negatively with pNN50, a measure of parasympathetic activity. Transcendental Meditation (TM) lowered heart rate and reduced nervous and emotional stress while preserving the overall balance of HRV frequency components. The findings support using HRV analysis to assess and monitor psycho-emotional state and to evaluate interventions like TM.
Women exposed to war-related stress show higher anxiety, depression, PTSD scores, and neurovegetative imbalance—including reduced heart rate variability, lower parasympathetic activity, and a shift toward sympathetic dominance—compared to a control group. Both cognitive behavioural therapy and Transcendental Meditation significantly reduced anxiety, depression, and stress. Transcendental Meditation produced a more pronounced improvement in autonomic regulation and anxiety than cognitive behavioural therapy. The findings suggest that Transcendental Meditation is a feasible non-medicated intervention for psychological support in war-affected women.