Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Stress Relief Program for Depression

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (06) ◽  
pp. 419-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bregje M. Hartogs ◽  
Agna A. Bartels-Velthuis ◽  
Karen Van der Ploeg ◽  
Elske H. Bos
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Outcome Measure ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Prolonged Treatment ◽  
Single Subject

SummaryBackground: Depressive disorders often have a chronic course and the efficacy of evidence-based treatments may be overestimated.Objective: To examine the effectiveness of the Heart Rate Variability Stress Reduction Program (SRP) as a supplement to standard treatment in patients with depressive disorders.Methods: The SRP was individually administered in eight weekly sessions. Seven participants completed the full protocol and were enrolled in a single-subject ABA multiple baseline experimental design. To perform interrupted time-series analyses, daily measures were completed in a diary (depression, resilience, happiness, heart coherence and a personalized outcome measure).Results: Five out of seven patients improved in depressed mood and/or a personalized outcome measure. The effect of treatment was reversed in four patients during the withdrawal phase. One patient reliably improved on depression, whereas two patients recovered on autonomy and one on social optimism. No consistent relationship was found between the heart rate variability-related level of coherence and self-reported mood levels.Conclusions: The SRP is beneficial in some domains and for some patients. A prolonged treatment or continued home practice may be required for enduring effects. The intervention had more clinical impact on resilience-related outcome measures than on symptoms. The small sample size does not permit generalization of the results. We recommend future investigation of the underlying mechanisms of the SRP.

scholarly journals Impact of Equine-Assisted Interventions on Heart Rate Variability in Two Participants with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: A Pilot Study

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1073
Author(s):  
Maria Amado-Fuentes ◽  
Margarita Gozalo ◽  
Andres Garcia-Gomez ◽  
Sabina Barrios-Fernandez
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
22Q11.2 Deletion Syndrome ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Deletion Syndrome ◽  
22Q11.2 Deletion ◽  
Equine Assisted

People with disabilities due to genetic origin often present high levels of stress: non-pharmacological interventions such as Equine-Assisted Interventions (EAI) may be a useful strategy. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate stress levels in two participants with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome diagnosis, immediately after carrying out the EAI. A single case experimental design methodology was chosen due to the small sample size. Two participants with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome, a rare disease, with different comorbidities were included. The present study considered the EAI as the independent variable while the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) represented the dependent one, as HRV is considered an indicator of stress level. Measurements were performed before and after carrying out the interventions. The results showed an HRV increase in one of the participants and an increase in the arousal level evidenced by a decrease in his HRV. After having carried out the program, EAI seems to cause an impact on the activation level of the participants depending on the typology and nature of the intervention. However, these results should be treated with caution due to the small sample size. This study is a pilot to test the feasibility of the proposed interventions on the variable under study.

scholarly journals Immunological Effects of an Add-On Physical Exercise Therapy in Depressed Adolescents and Its Interplay with Depression Severity

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6527
Author(s):  
Heidrun Lioba Wunram ◽  
Max Oberste ◽  
Stefanie Hamacher ◽  
Susanne Neufang ◽  
Nils Grote ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exercise Therapy ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Tnf Α

Background: Pro-inflammatory cytokines (PICs) have gained attention in the pathophysiology and treatment of depressive disorders. At the same time, the therapeutic effect of physical activity seems to work via immunomodulatory pathways. The interventional study “Mood Vibes” analyzed the influence of exercise on depression severity (primary endpoint) in depressive adolescents; the influence of PICs on the clinical outcome was analyzed as a secondary endpoint. Methods: Clinically diagnosed depressed adolescents (N = 64; 28.1% male; mean age = 15.9; mean BMI = 24.6) were included and participated either in Whole Body Vibration (WBV) (n = 21) or bicycle ergometer training (n = 20) in addition to treatment-as-usual (TAU). Patients in the control treatment group received TAU only (n = 23). The PICs (interleukin-6—IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α—TNF-α) were analyzed before intervention, after 6 weeks of training (t1), and 8 weeks post-intervention (t2). The effects of the treatment on depression severity were rated by self-rating “Depression Inventory for Children and Adolescents” (DIKJ). Results: Basal IL-6 decreased in all groups from t0 to t1, but it increased again in WBV and controls at t2. TNF-α diminished in ergometer and controls from baseline to t1. PIC levels showed no correlation with depression severity at baseline. The influence on DIKJ scores over time was significant for IL-6 in the WBV group (p = 0.008). Sex had an impact on TNF-α (p < 0.001), with higher concentrations in male patients. Higher body mass index was associated with higher IL-6 concentrations over all measurement points (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The positive effects of an intensive add-on exercise therapy on adolescent depression seem to be partly influenced by immunomodulation. A small sample size and non-randomized controls are limitations of this study.

scholarly journals Comparison of different Parameters of Heart Rate Frequency of Tasks Performed during Aircraft Open-Basket Ground Deicing Activities

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Landau K
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Cardiac Output ◽  
Field Study ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Evaluation Measure ◽  
Cardiac Cost ◽  
Working Heart

Plane deicing is mandatory to insure safe plane take-off. Previous human factors studies have shown that open-basket deicing activity can be improved. The objective of the paper is to compare heart rate assessment models within a field study with numerous influencing variables and small sample size as well as to deepen our understanding of the most demanding openbasket tasks using cardiac output. A field study in a Canadian centered plane deicing facility was conducted in 2016-2017. 12 participants contributed to a thorough description and analysis of open-basket deicing activities. Respiratory and cardiac output of these participants was collected using Hexoskin vests. Working heart rate, heart rate reserves as well as calculations of absolute cardiac cost were done. Working heart rate (WHR), Heart Rate Reserve (HRR) and Absolute Cardiac Cost (ACC) do not behave uniformly for the majority of participants. In field studies with a large number of influencing variables on the heart rate, it is usually not sufficient to consider one single evaluation measure like WHR. In the interest of protecting employees, it seems to make sense to use the more cautious measures HRR or ACC as parameters instead of WHR. Superimposed activities (e.g. forced postures and dynamic use of upper body) have a significant effect on heart rate increases. In 8 out of 11 cases we have fatigue-related increases in heart rate over the observation period. Similar studies need to be conducted in other aircraft deicing facilities.

Unsubstantiated conclusions about the Family Star Plus as an outcome measure: a rebuttal to Sweet, Winter, Neeson and Connolly (2020)

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Good ◽  
Joy MacKeith
Keyword(s):  
Ordinal Data ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Outcome Measure ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Outcomes Measures ◽  
The Family

Purpose The purpose of this article is to explain why Sweet et al.'s assertions are not well founded and raise unsubstantiated doubt over the use of the Family star Plus and the Outcomes Star suite of tools as outcomes measures. Design/methodology/approach Evidence is presented of flaws in the analysis, reporting and conclusions of an article published in this journal (Sweet et al., 2020). Findings Sweet et al. failed to mention a body of Outcomes Star validation work, including over 20 online reports and a manuscript they had seen of a now published article supporting the reliability and validity of the Family Star Plus (Good and MacKeith, 2020). There are significant issues with their methodology, presentation of results and conclusions including: reliance on statistical significance with a small sample size; use of statistics not intended for ordinal data and; and inappropriate conclusions from convergence with measures conceptually different to the Family Star Plus. Originality/value Evidence is presented that the Family Star Plus is a useful and valid outcome measure and that Sweet et al.’s conclusions can be attributed to issues with their methodology and interpretation.

scholarly journals Depressive Symptoms are Associated with Heart Rate Variability Independently of Fitness: A Cross-Sectional Study of Patients with Heart Failure

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 955-963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fawn A Walter ◽  
Emily Gathright ◽  
Joseph D Redle ◽  
John Gunstad ◽  
Joel W Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Step Test ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Depression is associated with reduced heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy and cardiac samples, which may be accounted for by physical fitness. In a small sample of cardiac patients, activity and fitness levels attenuated the relationship between HRV and depression. In the current study of heart failure (HF) patients, we hypothesized that depressive symptoms and HRV would be inversely related and physical fitness would attenuate this association. Purpose To determine if previous associations among depressive symptoms, physical fitness, and HRV would replicate in a sample of HF patients. Methods The sample consisted of HF patients (N = 125) aged 68.55 ± 8.92 years, 68.8% male, and 83.2% Caucasian. The study was cross-sectional and a secondary analysis of a nonrandomized clinical trial (Trial Identifier: NCT00871897). Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-II, fitness with the 2 min step test (2MST), and HRV during a 10 min resting laboratory psychophysiology protocol. The dependent variable in hierarchical linear regressions was the root mean square of successive differences. Results Controlling for sex, age, β-blocker use, hypertension, and diabetes, higher BDI-II scores significantly predicted lower HRV, β = −.29, t(92) = −2.79, p < .01. Adding 2MST did not attenuate the relationship in a follow-up regression. Conclusion Depressive symptoms were associated with lower HRV in HF patients, independent of physical fitness. Given the prevalence of depression and suppressed HRV common among HF patients, interventions addressing depressive symptoms and other predictors of poor outcomes may be warranted.

scholarly journals Bench behaviour of ice hockey coaches: Psychophysiological and verbal responses to critical game incidents

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D Kennedy ◽  
Camilla J Knight
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Critical Incidents ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Team Sports ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Verbal Responses

The purpose of this study was to examine coaches’ psychophysiological and verbal responses to different game situations. The in-game heart rate and verbal responses of three elite ice hockey coaches to four critical game incidents (Goals For/Against; Penalties Taken/Drawn) over four university women’s games were assessed. Verbal comments were categorised using the Coach Behaviour Assessment System, and then comments and heart rate were sequenced to critical incidents recorded on video review. Overall, in-game heart rate was greater than rest and coaches were rarely silent. General encouragement and general commentary were the most common verbal comments. Two hundred and eight critical incident comments were recorded (Goals For/Against 34.6 %; Penalties Taken/Drawn 65.4%) associated with a 10 bpm greater heart rate. Most common verbal responses to critical incidents were general commentary, silence and organisation. The type of comment was affected by the type of critical incident. In 78% of critical incidents, the type of comment made before incidents differed to type of comment after the incident, coaches rarely talked at the same time and silence was common. These novel findings are limited to ice hockey coaches given the small sample size. However, these results should encourage more research into the psychophysiological and verbal responses of coaches in other team sports real game situations to better understand in game coaching behaviour.

scholarly journals Psychophysiology of slow breathing exercises using heart rate variability measurements for stress reduction

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dante Jr. Guanlao Simbulan
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Respiratory Rate ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Tai Chi ◽  
Chronically Ill ◽  
Positive Sign ◽  
Breathing Exercises ◽  
Skin Response ◽  
Slow Breathing

Slow breathing exercises, associated with meditation and other eastern style modalities like tai chi and hatha yoga, are now increasingly employed in mainstream medicine to reduce stress, attenuate moderate hypertension, and alleviate symptoms of lifestyle-related illnesses. The clinical literature on slow breathing exercises includes studies employing various physiological measurements, including heart rate variability (HRV), galvanic skin response, and changes in skin temperature. HRV has been increasingly used to measure the activity of the autonomic nervous system in various human studies employing healthy and chronically ill subjects. 1. Objective: To understand the effects of slow breathing exercises on heart rate variability as a complementary intervention for stress reduction. 2. Method: Four subjects, through repetitive trials, were instructed to slow down their breathing following a metronome at 10 breaths per minute or 6 breaths per minute or spontaneously relax to slow down their respiratory rate. The ECG, heart rate, and respiratory rate were recorded using a Powerlab set-up (ADI). 3. Key Results:  Results showed an increase in amplitude of heart rate variability during these slow breathing exercises, either through the metronome-guided or spontaneous slow-breathing exercises, especially around a breathing frequency of 6 breaths per minute. The increased amplitude of heart rate variability can be seen as a positive sign, a marker for sympathovagal balance. 4. Conclusion: HRV measurements have shown that slow breathing exercises can increase heart rate variability.  Future protocols for clinical trials are being projected using the HRV technique and other physiological measurements for studying effects of yoga-based complementary interventions for stress reduction.

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