Research of the personal characteristics of patients with vegetative disorders in relation to clinical and instrumental indicators

The aim of the research was to study the personality traits of patients with vegetative disorders (VD) and the identification of their psychosomatic relationships with heart rate variability (HRV) and with a clinical degree of severity of vegetative manifestations.The military personnel of Petrozavodsk were examined: the main group (MG) — 104 people with VD (average age 36,8±7,7 years, gender index 1:1); control group (СG) — 30 healthy individuals (average age 36,1±5,5 years; gender index 1:1; p=0,761).We used: «A questionnaire to identify signs of vegetative changes» (Vane A. M., 2003); cardiointervalography with an assessment of integrative indicators (standard deviation of RR — intervals (SDNN, ms) and total power of the spectrum (TR, ms 2 )). Personality traits were examined using the «Big Five» test (The Big Five Inventory–2 Short Form (BFI–2–S)). Statistical processing of experimental data was carried out in Excel 14.0 environment using Statistica 6.0 software packages. It was revealed that in patients with VD, compared with healthy ones, there is a moderate vegetative imbalance (36,63±10,50 / 2,67±1,96 points according to the A. M. Vane questionnaire); and a decrease in the level of vegetative regulation (with a predominance of sympathetic) with a decrease in adaptive capabilities (TP 1512,69±1005,38 ms 2 and 6548,80±3898,95 ms 2 ; SDNN 38,34±13,27 ms and 80,17±23,59 ms in MG and СG, respectively; p<0,05). The results of BFI–2–S indicated that patients with VD have an increased level of neuroticism against the background of a weakening of such personal qualities as: extraversion, benevolence, good faith, openness to experience. Neuroticism is a characteristic personality trait that, through a system of psychosomatic relationships, exacerbates the clinical and neurological manifestations of the disease. It directly correlates with the severity of vegetative imbalance (according to the A. M. Vane questionnaire; R = 0,66), and vice versa — with heart rate variability (R = — 0,56 for SPNN; R = — 0,53 for TP). The results of the study make it possible to optimize personalized strategies for the medical and psychological rehabilitation of people with VD.