Displaying 1 - 3 of 3
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a significant marker of health outcomes with decreased HRV predicting increased disease risk. HRV is decreased in major depressive disorder (MDD) but existing treatments for depression do not return heart rate variability to normal levels even with successful treatment of depression. Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) increases heart rate variability but no studies to date have examined whether combining HRVB with psychotherapy improves outcome in MDD treatment. The present study used a randomized controlled design to compare the effects of HRVB combined with psychotherapy on MDD relative to a psychotherapy treatment as usual group and to a non-depressed control group. The HRVB + psychotherapy group showed a larger increase in HRV and a larger decrease in depressive symptoms relative to the other groups over a six-week period, whereas the psychotherapy group only did not improve HRV. Results support the supplementation of psychotherapy with HRVB in the treatment of MDD.
Mindfulness meditation is increasingly used in health interventions and may reduce stress and blood pressure. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of brief mindfulness meditation in reducing cardiovascular reactivity and recovery during a laboratory stressor. We randomly assigned 62 meditation-naïve participants to a mindfulness meditation group or a matched non-mindful listening exercise control group. There were no differences between groups in blood pressure, demographic, or mood variables at baseline. Mindfulness participants showed lower systolic blood pressure following the mindfulness exercise and decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure reactivity during a speeded math stressor. Specifically, as the stressor progressed, blood pressure in the mindfulness group began to decrease, whereas in the control group, it continued to increase. There were no group differences during recovery. Overall, brief mindfulness meditation reduced cardiovascular reactivity to stress and may be an effective intervention for reducing stress-related blood pressure reactivity.
Depression and anxiety are undertreated and represent a growing health crisis and economic burden. Current treatment approaches (medications, psychotherapy) appear insufficient to resolve these problems. Difficulties with current treatment approaches include cost, side effects, and stigma. Given that depression and anxiety share significant features and a common etiology in chronic stress, an effective approach to reduce depression and anxiety may be to reduce chronic stress. Chronic stress is on the rise, with more than one third of Americans reporting high levels of stress with which they feel they cannot adequately cope. Treating chronic stress at the population level has the potential to reduce the rising tide of depression and anxiety. Biofeedback and mindfulness are two interventions that demonstrably reduce stress and negative mood, are cost and time-effective, have no side effects, and have minimal stigma relative to medications and psychotherapy.