The Effects of Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia Biofeedback on Heart Rate Variability and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Recent studies have found a significant association between PTSD and low heart rate variability (HRV), a biomarker of autonomic dysregulation. Research indicates that respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) biofeedback increases HRV while reducing related pathological symptoms. This controlled pilot study compared RSA biofeedback to progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) as adjunctive interventions for 38 persons with PTSD symptoms in a residential treatment facility for a substance use disorder. Both groups were assessed at pre-intervention and 4-week post-intervention. Group x time interactions revealed significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms and increases in HRV indices for the RSA group. Both groups significantly reduced PTSD and insomnia symptoms and a statistical trend was observed for reduced substance craving for the RSA group. Increases in HRV were significantly associated with PTSD symptom reduction. Overall, these results provide preliminary support for the efficacy of RSA biofeedback in improving physiological and psychological health for individuals with PTSD.

Favouring emotional processing in improvisational music therapy through resonance frequency breathing: a single-case experimental study with a healthy client

“…We know from existing studies that a carry-over effect does exist, at least on HRV and in the short term. For example, Karavidas et al (2007) and Zucker et al (2009) both reported increased SDNN during the 5-minute resting period immediately following RFB, when compared to the preintervention resting period. However, we do not know how long this beneficial effect on HRV actually lasts, and what would be the factors responsible for intra-and inter-individual variations.…”

Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback in Subjects with Stress-Related Chronic Neck Pain: A Pilot Study

“…In contrast, Nolan et al (2005) demonstrated an association between augmented vagal activation and reduced stress perception after five sessions HRV biofeedback in patients with coronary heart disease. Similarly, a controlled pilot study on subjects with PTSD showed that a change in HRV during HRV BF treatment was able to predict PTSD symptom reduction (Zucker et al 2009). …”

“…It has been suggested that resonance frequency breathing (i.e., the breathing frequency that causes the largest HR oscillation amplitude) may strengthen baroreflexes, thus improving the autonomic functioning (Vaschillo et al 2002;Lehrer et al 2003). HRV BF has shown to be useful in treating symptoms in various disorders characterized by aberration of the ANS (Wheat and Larkin 2010), including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Zucker et al 2009), depression (Siepmann et al 2008) and heart disease (Nolan et al 2005) as well as musculoskeletal pain (Hasset et al 2007;Kapitza et al 2010). However, further controlled studies are needed on muscle pain.…”

Mobile Stress Recognition and Relaxation Support with SmartCoping: User-Adaptive Interpretation of Physiological Stress Parameters

“…The relaxation effect of HRV biofeedback has been well demonstrated in various studies [16,21,36,47]. The Interstress project, which focused on developing therapeutic solutions to stress, also employed biofeedback as a stress reducing technique [43].…”