| Title | Relationship between heart rate variability and aggressive behavior among patients with schizophrenia hospitalized in acute wards. | ||
| Author | Wang, Hsiao-Tzu; Yang, Chien-Ming; Chen, Kai-Ren; Chueh, Ke-Hsin | ||
| Journal | Perspect Psychiatr Care | Publication Year/Month | 2020-Apr |
| PMID | 31410853 | PMCID | -N/A- |
| Affiliation + expend | 1.Department of Nursing, Bali Psychiatric Center, MOHW, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC. | ||
PURPOSE: To explore the state of mental treatment, heart rate variability (HRV), level of aggressive behavior, and their relationships among hospitalized patients with schizophrenia. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study adopted a follow-up design and convenience sampling. Thirty-three subjects completed the questionnaire, and their HRV indices were measured. FINDINGS: Patients\' psychiatric symptoms showed a significant downward trend after hospitalization (P = .003). The standard deviation of the normal-to-normal intervals in the morning was significantly correlated with overall aggression, physical aggression, and verbal aggression. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: HRV can be regularly monitored among inpatients with schizophrenia with a risk of high aggression as an indicator of possible aggressive behavior.