A randomized-controlled trial of heart rate variability biofeedback for psychotic symptoms

Clamor, Annika; Koenig, Julian; Thayer, Julian F.; Lincoln, Tania M.

doi:10.1016/j.brat.2016.10.003

Cited by 29 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Combining HRV biofeedback with psychotherapy improves outcome in the treatment of major depressive disorder (Caldwell & Steffen, ). Moreover, HRV biofeedback protocols have shown to be highly effective in treating a variety of conditions (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome, Stern, Guiles, & Gevirtz, ; fibromyalgia, Hassett et al ., ; substance use disorders, Eddie, Kim, Lehrer, Deneke, & Bates, ; psychotic symptoms, Clamor, Koenig, Thayer, & Lincoln, ), but also in improving psychical and cognitive performances. Intriguingly, as noted by Mather and Thayer (), many meditative and religious chanting practices (e.g., reciting either the rosary Ave Maria prayer or a yoga mantra) lead to breathing at a 10‐s/breath rate.…”

Section: Biofeedback and Compassion To Increase Hrvmentioning

confidence: 99%

The social brain and heart rate variability: Implications for psychotherapy

Petrocchi

Cheli

2019

Psychol Psychother

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Purpose. Humans evolved within the mammalian line as a highly social species. Indeed, sociality has been a major driver of human social intelligence. From birth, social relationships have emotional and self-regulating properties and operate through different body systems. This paper will explore how heart rate variability (HRV), an index of the vagal regulation of the heart and a central element of the physiological underpinnings of sociality, is related to mental health problems, with important implications for psychotherapy.Methods. We conducted a narrative review of the literature on the bi-directional links between prosocial motivations, HRV, and psychophysiological functioning.Results. HRV is associated not only with the ability to downregulate physiological arousal, but also with a variety of psychological and behavioural variables which are usually the target of psychotherapeutic interventions. A modern neurovisceral integration model can be employed to explain the complex intercorrelation between HRV and psychophysiological functioning. In particular, the link between HRV, the experience of inter-and intrapersonal safeness, and the inhibitory function of the prefrontal cortex will be explored in the context of prosocial motives, such as compassion, that alleviate and help prevent mental health difficulties.Conclusions. Our knowledge of the social brain and its physiological underpinnings might influence important elements of a therapeutic intervention, from the initial assessment of patient's difficulties to the evaluation of therapy outcomes. Practitioner pointsSocial relationships have emotional and self-regulating properties. The experience of inter-and intrapersonal safeness is connected to prosocial motives, such as compassion, and the inhibitory function of the prefrontal cortex. Social relationships and compassion influence different body systems, such as the vagus nerve. Many forms of psychopathology represent the activation of evolved, defensive strategies especially in contexts where there are few stimuli indicating safeness and social support. Heart rate variability predicts psychotherapy outcome.

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Section: Biofeedback and Compassion To Increase Hrvmentioning

confidence: 99%

The social brain and heart rate variability: Implications for psychotherapy

Petrocchi

Cheli

2019

Psychol Psychother

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“…Findings illustrate that physiological indices can provide information about potential mechanisms underlying psychological interventions. Findings also suggest the benefit of considering psychophysiological responding and adaptability in the context of cognitive and affective approaches inherent in a therapeutic setting for trauma-exposed populations, as potential markers of treatment engagement, progress, and outcome (e.g., Clamor, Koenig, Thayer, & Lincoln, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Effect of expressive and neutral writing on respiratory sinus arrhythmia response over time

Sheerin

König

Eonta

et al. 2018

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry

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“…Mental training may prove particularly fruitful for people who exhibit altered or reduced vagal flexibility, as found in children at risk of psychopathology 83 and people suffering from depression 84 or social phobia 85 . Such programs may also be helpful for people suffering from psychotic symptoms, who have been found to benefit from increased HF-HRV control in a biofeedback study 86 . In addition, increased vagal control may have benefits for healthy individuals, as increases in vagal activity promote relaxation and restoration of the organism, thus increasing general well-being and resilience 87–90 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Voluntary upregulation of heart rate variability through biofeedback is improved by mental contemplative training

Bornemann

Kovacs

Singer

2019

Sci Rep

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Regulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, indexed through high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), is indicative of physical and psychological health. However, little is known about the trainability of this capacity. We investigated the effects of a 9-month mental training program (the ReSource Project; n = 298) on voluntary HF-HRV upregulation, assessed with a novel biofeedback procedure. The program consisted of attentional, interoceptive, socio-affective and socio-cognitive training elements, all of which potentially influence parasympathetic regulation. Based on known links between oxytocin and parasympathetic activity, we also explored the relationship of HF-HRV upregulation to the oxytocin receptor system. We found that HF-HRV during the biofeedback session increased after 3 months of training, concomitant with prolonged respiration cycles. Breathing-controlled changes in HF-HRV upregulation, indicative of improved parasympathetic control, were significantly increased after 6 months of training. Homozygous risk allele carriers (AA) of the oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism rs53576 showed initially lower parasympathetic control, but fully compensated for their initial deficits through the training. No changes were found for HF-HRV at rest. Our data demonstrate that a mental training intervention extending over several months can increase the capacity for voluntary regulation of HF-HRV, with important implications for improving individual and societal health.

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A randomized-controlled trial of heart rate variability biofeedback for psychotic symptoms

Cited by 29 publications

References 49 publications

The social brain and heart rate variability: Implications for psychotherapy

The social brain and heart rate variability: Implications for psychotherapy

Effect of expressive and neutral writing on respiratory sinus arrhythmia response over time

Voluntary upregulation of heart rate variability through biofeedback is improved by mental contemplative training

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