Distinguishing Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Stress Responses: Implications for Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Training

Recent research has noted a significant overlap between symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and postconcussion syndrome (PCS). In this article, an argument is made for providing a specialized form of heart rate variability biofeedback that allows for the physiological discharge of trauma among patients who present with comorbid symptoms of PTSD and PCS. Recommendations for clinicians who encounter the manifestation of trauma during their work with PCS patients are provided. Future areas of heart rate variability biofeedback research among PCS and PTSD populations are further delineated.