Peculiarities of psycho-emotional and neurovegetative state in Ukrainian women who have experienced war-related stress and ways of its non-medicinal correction.

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the peculiarities of psycho-emotional and neurovegetative disorders in women exposed to war-related stress and to assess the possibilities of their correction by cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and Transcendental Meditation (TM). Materials and Methods: The study involved 72 women, 35 of whom had experienced high-intensity stress and 37 of whom were in the control group. The psychoemotional state was assessed by the DASS-21 test and a screening test for post-traumatic stress disorder. The neurovegetative state was assessed by mathematical analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). The main group was divided into subgroups that received correction using CBT or TM. Results: In the main group exposed to the stressors of war, a higher level of anxiety, depression, PTSD score, and neurovegetative imbalance (decreased total adaptation reserve [SDNN], decreased parasympathetic regulation activity [RMSSD], increased vegetative balance index [LF/HF], indicating a shift towards sympathicotonia) was found. After the correction, both subgroups (CBT and TM) showed a decrease in anxiety, depression and stress. TM showed a more pronounced corrective effect on neurovegetative regulation and some indicators of psycho-emotional state (anxiety) compared to CBT. Conclusions: A war significantly affects the psycho-emotional and neurovegetative state of women. Both of the applied non-medicated methods (CBT and TM) showed a significant corrective effect. The results of the study confirm the positive effects of TM and indicate the feasibility of its use for psychological support of persons exposed to the stress factors of war.