Key result
Heart rate variability biofeedback was associated with large increases in HRV and greater emotional control in individuals with severe acquired brain injury.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to examine the efficacy of heart rate variability biofeedback to treat emotional dysregulation in persons with acquired brain injury.
Does heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BF) improve emotional dysregulation in individuals with severe chronic acquired brain injury?
Does heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BF) improve emotional dysregulation in individuals with severe chronic acquired brain injury?
Heart rate variability biofeedback is associated with increases in HRV and may be useful for treating emotional dysregulation in patients with severe acquired brain injury.
Hypothesis-generating for HRV biofeedback after severe brain injury; does not yet support clinical adoption.
Primary objective: To examine the efficacy of heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BF) to treat emotional dysregulation in persons with acquired brain injury.Design: A secondary analysis of a quasi-experimental study which enrolled 13 individuals with severe chronic acquired brain injury participating in a community-based programme. Response-to-treatment was measured with two HRV resonance indices (low frequency activity [LF] and low frequency/high frequency ratio [LF/HF]).Main outcome: Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-informant report (emotional control subscale [EC]).Results: Results show significant correlation between LF and EC with higher LF activity associated with greater emotional control; the association between LF/HF pre-post-change score and EC is not statistically significant. A moderation model, however, demonstrates a significant influence of attention on the relation between LF/HF change and EC when attention level is high, with an increase in LF/HF activity associated with greater emotional control.Conclusions: HRV-BF is associated with large increases in HRV, and it appears to be useful for the treatment of emotional dysregulation in individuals with severe acquired brain injury. Attention training may enhance an individual’s emotional control.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Kim et al. (2019) studied severe chronic acquired brain injury (n=13). Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BF) was evaluated on Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-informant report (emotional control subscale [EC]). Heart rate variability biofeedback was associated with large increases in HRV and greater emotional control in individuals with severe acquired brain injury.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: