Correlations between heart rate variability and neurotic symptoms in athletes from Russian national teams

Aim. The paper aims to identify the correlation between heart rate variability (HRV) indicators and neurotic symptoms in highly trained athletes. Materials and methods. The comparison between time domain and spectral HRV indicators was performed in athletes from Russian national teams (males, n = 70) with different severity of neurotic symptoms in the annual training cycle. Clinical and psychological methods (observation, interview), psychological testing (identification and assessment of neurotic states by K. Yakhin and D. Mendelevich), cardiac intervals measurement and statistical methods (Spearman rank correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney U-test) were used for the purpose of the study. Results. Mean LF and VLF values in athletes with severe neurotic symptoms were 2189.3 ± 788.08 ms² and 2268.63 ± 703.2 ms² respectively, which significantly exceeds absolute values in healthy people at rest and mean values in athletes without neurotic disorders. This indicates a more pronounced functional stress of regulatory systems, overtraining, and an increased risk of adaptation disorders. The correlation analysis between spectral HRV indicators and questionnaire scales identified a specific tendency to increased obsessive and phobic symptoms associated with the compensation of neurotic symptoms, anxiety and asthenization. Conclusion. Neurotic reactions in highly trained athletes are strictly differentiated depending on the stage of sports training. Neurosis associated with overtraining is characterized by pronounced obsessive and phobic symptoms and can be considered as a specific indicator of functional stress and adaptation disorders during intensive training. The most important task of psychological assistance is to identify athletes at risk. This requires the development of valid and easy to use tools for a rapid assessment of obsessive and phobic symptoms.