1
|
Coulter HL, Donnelly MP, Yakkundi A, McAneney H, Barr OG, Kernohan WG. Heart rate variability biofeedback to reduce anxiety in autism spectrum disorder - a mini review. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1409173. [PMID: 38938467 PMCID: PMC11208699 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1409173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a reported high prevalence of anxiety in people with autism spectrum disorder. This mini review appraises existing research investigating heart rate variability biofeedback to help manage symptoms of anxiety in people with autism spectrum disorder. A thorough search of electronic databases was conducted to find relevant literature. Consultation with experts and a librarian helped develop search terms following the PICO framework. Five databases were searched, and screening was undertaken using Covidence software, with the process outlined in a PRISMA flowchart. The latest review showed positive short-term effects but there is a need for long-term follow-up. Future investigations should consider device type, training settings, and control interventions. Accurate heart rate variability assessment independent of biofeedback devices is crucial. Additional measures like cortisol assessment and user feedback are recommended for comprehensive evaluation. The findings highlight progress in the evidence base and offer insight to future directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen L. Coulter
- Doctoral College, Ulster University, Belfast, United Kingdom
- Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster University, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Mark P. Donnelly
- School of Computing, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, Ulster University, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Anita Yakkundi
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster University, Belfast, United Kingdom
- Northern Ireland Public Health Research Network, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Helen McAneney
- Northern Ireland Public Health Research Network, Belfast, United Kingdom
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, University of Ulster, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Owen G. Barr
- Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster University, Belfast, United Kingdom
- School of Nursing and Paramedic Science, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster University, Londonderry, United Kingdom
| | - W. George Kernohan
- Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster University, Belfast, United Kingdom
- School of Nursing and Paramedic Science, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster University, Londonderry, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wecht JM, Weir JP, Peters CG, Weber E, Wylie GR, Chiaravalloti NC. Autonomic Cardiovascular Control, Psychological Well-Being, and Cognitive Performance in People With Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurotrauma 2023; 40:2610-2620. [PMID: 37212256 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine associations between parameters of psychological well-being, injury characteristics, cardiovascular autonomic nervous system (ANS) control, and cognitive performance in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) compared with age-matched uninjured controls. This is an observational, cross-sectional study including a total of 94 participants (52 with SCI and 42 uninjured controls: UIC). Cardiovascular ANS responses were continuously monitored at rest and during administration of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT). Self-report scores on the SCI-Quality of Life questionnaires are reported for depression, anxiety, fatigue, resilience, and positive affect. Participants with SCI performed significantly more poorly on the PASAT compared with the uninjured controls. Although not statistically significant, participants with SCI tended to report more psychological distress and less well-being than the uninjured controls. In addition, when compared with uninjured controls, the cardiovascular ANS responses to testing were significantly altered in participants with SCI; however, these responses to testing did not predict PASAT performance. Self-reported levels of anxiety were significantly related to PASAT score in the SCI group, but there was no significant relationship between PASAT and the other indices of SCI-Quality of Life. Future investigations should more closely examine the relationship among cardiovascular ANS impairments, psychological disorders, and cognitive dysfunction to better elucidate the underpinnings of these deficits and to guide interventions aimed at improving physiological, psychological, and cognitive health after SCI. Tetraplegia, paraplegia, blood pressure variability, cognitive, mood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jill M Wecht
- James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Bronx Veterans Medical Research Foundation, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Medicine, the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joseph P Weir
- Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Caitlyn G Peters
- James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey, USA
| | - Erica Weber
- Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey, USA
- Rutgers-NJ Medical School, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Glenn R Wylie
- Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey, USA
- Rutgers-NJ Medical School, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Nancy C Chiaravalloti
- Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey, USA
- Rutgers-NJ Medical School, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pizzera A, Laborde S, Lahey J, Wahl P. Influence of physical and psychological stress on decision-making performance of soccer referees. J Sports Sci 2022; 40:2037-2046. [PMID: 36175198 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2022.2127516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Soccer referees have to make quick and accurate decisions while experiencing physical stress (i.e., fatigue) and psychological stress (i.e., pressure from the crowd). Researchers have examined the influence of physical and psychological stress on skilled referees' decision-making performance separately; however, referees usually experience both types of stress simultaneously. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of both physical and psychological stress on skilled and less-skilled soccer referees' decision-making performance. To simulate the physical and psychological stress during a game, 25 referees were asked to make foul decisions while running on a treadmill and/or being exposed to auditory stress. Referees were more physically fatigued in the physical and psychologically stressed in the psychological stress condition. However, this only negatively influenced their decision-making performance in the video test during the submaximal physical stress condition, when compared to the resting condition. The results also indicate that the experienced referees learned to cope with fatigue and psychological stress regarding their cognitive processes. The effects seem to be differentially detrimental, depending on the league level of refereeing, but also whether physical and psychological stress are induced separately. The study protocol could help referees train in a simulated learning environment, besides on-field games.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Pizzera
- Department of Performance Psychology, German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Psychology, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sylvain Laborde
- Department of Performance Psychology, German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Psychology, Cologne, Germany
| | - Johannes Lahey
- Department of Performance Psychology, German Sport University Cologne, Institute of Psychology, Cologne, Germany
| | - Patrick Wahl
- Department of Exercise Physiology, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Coulter H, Donnelly M, Mallett J, Kernohan WG. Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback to Treat Anxiety in Young People With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Findings From a Home-Based Pilot Study. JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e37994. [PMID: 36018712 PMCID: PMC9463620 DOI: 10.2196/37994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently experience high levels of anxiety. Despite this, many clinical settings do not provide specialist ASD mental health services, and demand for professional support frequently outstrips supply. Across many sectors of health, investigators have explored digital health solutions to mitigate demand and extend the reach of professional practice beyond traditional clinical settings. Objective This critical appraisal and pilot feasibility study examines heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback as an approach to help young people with ASD to manage anxiety symptoms outside of formal settings. The aim is to explore the use of portable biofeedback devices to manage anxiety, while also highlighting the risks and benefits of this approach with this population. Methods We assessed the feasibility of using home-based HRV biofeedback for self-management of anxiety in young people with ASD. We adopted coproduction, involving people with ASD, to facilitate development of the study design. Next, a separate pilot with 20 participants with ASD (n=16, 80% male participants and n=4, 20% female participants, aged 13-24 years; IQ>70) assessed adoption and acceptability of HRV biofeedback devices for home use over a 12-week period. Data were collected from both carers and participants through questionnaires and interviews; participants also provided single-lead electrocardiogram recordings as well as daily reports through smartphone on adoption and use of their device. Results Pre-post participant questionnaires indicated a significant reduction in anxiety in children (t6=2.55; P=.04; Cohen d=0.99) as well as adults (t7=3.95; P=.006; Cohen d=0.54). Participant age was significantly negatively correlated with all HRV variables at baseline, namely high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV: P=.02), the root mean square of successive differences in normal heartbeat contractions (RMSSD: P=.02) and the variability of normal-to-normal interbeat intervals (SDNN: P=.04). At follow-up, only SDNN was significantly negatively correlated with age (P=.05). Levels of ASD symptoms were positively correlated with heart rate both before (P=.04) and after the intervention (P=.01). The majority (311/474, 65.6%) of reports from participants indicated that the devices helped when used. Difficulties with the use of some devices and problems with home testing of HRV were noted. These initial findings are discussed within the context of the strengths and challenges of remotely delivering a biofeedback intervention for people with ASD. Conclusions HRV biofeedback devices have shown promise in this pilot study. There is now a need for larger evaluation of biofeedback to determine which delivery methods achieve the greatest effect for people with ASD. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04955093; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04955093
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen Coulter
- South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, County Down, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Weber J, Angerer P, Apolinário-Hagen J. Physiological reactions to acute stressors and subjective stress during daily life: A systematic review on ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271996. [PMID: 35895674 PMCID: PMC9328558 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This review aims to provide an overview of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies analyzing stress reactivity during daily life in terms of direct and moderated influence of acute stress on physiological responses. Materials and methods A systematic literature search was performed on November 29, 2021 using Web of Science, MEDLINE and PsycINFO to identify prospective EMA studies targeting acute stressors or stress under naturalistic conditions, without restrictions of publication date or population. Study quality was assessed for multiple EMA-specific sources of bias. Results Out of 4285 non-duplicate records, 107 publications involving 104 unique studies were included. The majority of studies assessed acute physiological stress responses primarily through salivary cortisol (n = 59) and cardiovascular outcomes (n = 32). Most studies performed at least three measurements per day (n = 59), and had a moderate risk of recall bias (n = 68) and confounding (n = 85). Fifty-four studies reported a compliance of ≥80%. Direct, non-moderated positive associations were observed between acute stress exposure and concurrent cortisol levels (44%, n = 11/25), systolic (44%, 8/18) and diastolic blood pressure (53%, 8/15) and heart rate (53%, 9/17). Several inter- and intra-individual moderators were identified, such as age, gender, health status, chronic stress, work-related resources, physical activity and stress coping indicators. Conclusions About half of the reviewed EMA studies demonstrated direct associations between everyday acute stress exposure and physiological responses, including increased cortisol levels, blood pressure and heart rate. Results further suggested various moderator variables that could help develop tailored prevention strategies and identify groups at higher risk for dysfunctional stress responses. Registration PROSPERO—Reg.-No.: PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020163178.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette Weber
- Institute of Occupational-, Social- and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Peter Angerer
- Institute of Occupational-, Social- and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jennifer Apolinário-Hagen
- Institute of Occupational-, Social- and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Feelings from the Heart Part II: Simulation and Validation of Static and Dynamic HRV Decrease-Trigger Algorithms to Detect Stress in Firefighters. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22082925. [PMID: 35458912 PMCID: PMC9029799 DOI: 10.3390/s22082925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Several mobile devices have multiple sensors on board and interact with smartphones. This allows for a complex online evaluation of physiological data, important for interactive psychophysiological assessments, which targets the triggering of psychological states based on physiological data such as heart rate variability (HRV). However, algorithms designed to trigger meaningful physiological processes are rare. One exception is the concept of additional HRV reduction (AddHRVr), which aims to control for metabolic-related changes in cardiac activity. In this study we present an approach, based on data of a previous study, which allows algorithm settings to be derived that could be used to automatically trigger the assessment of psychosocial states by online-analysis of transient HRV changes in a sample of 38 firefighters. Settings of a static and a dynamic AddHRVr algorithm were systematically manipulated and quantified by binary triggers. These triggers were subjected to multilevel models predicting increases of objective stress during a period of 24 h. Effect estimates (i.e., odds) and bootstrap power simulations were calculated to inform about the most robust algorithm settings. This study delivers evidence that a dynamic AddHRVr algorithm can trigger transitions of stress, which should be further validated in future interactive psychophysiological assessments.
Collapse
|
7
|
Yang J, Kershaw KN. Feasibility of using ecological momentary assessment and continuous heart rate monitoring to measure stress reactivity in natural settings. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264200. [PMID: 35263368 PMCID: PMC8906632 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The way people respond to stressful situations (i.e., stress reactivity) varies widely. Researchers typically measure stress reactivity in controlled studies, but this is limited because laboratory stressors cannot capture the variety, severity, or duration of stressors that individuals face in their daily lives. The present study examined the feasibility of using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and a wireless electrocardiography (ECG) patch to develop an understanding of stress reactivity in natural settings. Thirty-five adult women completed EMA surveys about stressors they were exposed to while wearing a wireless ECG monitor for 7 consecutive days. Daily stressors were measured using seven questions adapted from the Daily Inventory of Stressful Events and a stressor interval was defined as the presence of at least one stressor during the EMA survey prompt. Participants wore the Cardea SOLO wireless ECG monitor (Cardiac Insight Inc., Bellevue, WA) to continuously track their heart rate. Participant-specific differences in 5-minute heart rate variability (HRV) between intervals when participants did and did not report stressors were calculated and displayed in a heat map. Survey response rate was satisfactory (72.0%, n = 588) and nearly all participants (33 out of 35) reported both stressor and non-stressor intervals. Each participant reported at least one stressor on approximately 35% of completed surveys while wearing the ECG patch. Mean wear time (6.6 days) and the duration of analyzable data with an ECG monitor were close to the 7-day study period. While many participants had lower HRV during stressor versus non-stressor intervals, the magnitude and direction of these differences varied widely. In summary, we found that a 7-day sampling scheme combining ecological momentary assessment (EMA) with HRV measured using continuous ECG monitoring was feasible and effective in capturing a variety of daily stressors and measuring autonomic stress reactivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Yang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Kiarri N. Kershaw
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Schwerdtfeger AR, Rominger C. Feelings from the heart: Developing HRV decrease-trigger algorithms via multilevel hyperplane simulation to detect psychosocially meaningful episodes in everyday life. Psychophysiology 2021; 58:e13914. [PMID: 34357598 PMCID: PMC9285549 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Heart rate variability (HRV) has been associated with diverse psychosocial concepts, like stress, anxiety, depression, rumination, social support, and positive affect, among others. Although recent ecological momentary assessment research devoted the analysis of cardiac‐psychosocial interactions in daily life, traditional time sampling designs are compromised by a random pairing of cardiac and psychosocial variables across several time points. In this study, we present an approach based on the concept of additional heart rate and additional HRV reductions, which aims to control for metabolic‐related changes in cardiac activity. This approach allows derivation of algorithm settings, which can later be used to automatically trigger the assessment of psychosocial states by online‐analysis of transient HRV changes. We used an already published data set in order to identify potential triggers offline indexing meaningful HRV decrements as related to low quality social interactions. First, two algorithm settings for a non‐metabolic HRV decrease trigger (i.e., the number of HRV decreases in a specified time window) were systematically manipulated and quantified by binary triggers (HRV decrease detected vs. not). Second, triggers were then entered in multilevel models predicting (lower levels of) social support. Effect estimates and bootstrap power simulations were visualized on hyperplanes to determine the most robust algorithm settings. A setting associated with 13 HRV decreases out of 29 min seems to be particularly sensitive to low quality of social interactions. Further algorithm refinements and validation studies are encouraged. We demonstrate a simulation‐based approach to derive algorithms for an interactive psychophysiological assessment, which aims to detect transient decrements in heart rate variability (HRV) in everyday life. The suggested methodological approach could be applied to various ecological momentary assessment data sets with parallel recording of HRV and psychosocial variables.
Collapse
|
9
|
Brown SBRE, Brosschot JF, Versluis A, Thayer JF, Verkuil B. Assessing New Methods to Optimally Detect Episodes of Non-metabolic Heart Rate Variability Reduction as an Indicator of Psychological Stress in Everyday Life: A Thorough Evaluation of Six Methods. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:564123. [PMID: 33192251 PMCID: PMC7642880 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.564123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Frequent or chronic reduction in heart rate variability (HRV) is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular disease, and psychological stress has been suggested to be a co-determinant of this reduction. Recently, we evaluated various methods to measure additional HRV reduction in everyday life and to relate these reductions to psychological stress. In the current paper, we thoroughly evaluate these methods and add two new methods in both newly acquired and reanalyzed datasets. All of these methods use a subset of 24 h worth of HRV and movement data to do so: either the first 10 min of every hour, the full 24 h, a combination of 10 min from three consecutive hours, a classification of level of movement, the data from day n to detect episodes in day n + 1, or a range of activities during lab calibration. The method that used the full 24 h worth of data detected the largest percentage of episodes of reduced additional HRV that matched with self-reported stress levels, making this method the most promising, while using the first 10 min from three consecutive hours was a good runner-up.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen B R E Brown
- Department of Health, Medical, and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, Netherlands.,Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Red Deer College, Red Deer, AB, Canada
| | - Jos F Brosschot
- Department of Health, Medical, and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Anke Versluis
- Department of Health, Medical, and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Julian F Thayer
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Bart Verkuil
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cubillos-Calvachi J, Piedrahita-Gonzalez J, Gutiérrez-Ardila C, Montenegro-Marín C, Gaona-García P, Burgos D. Analysis of stress's effects on cardiac dynamics: A case study on undergraduate students. Int J Med Inform 2020; 137:104104. [PMID: 32146373 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Early detection of cardiovascular disease could make a difference in terms of treatment success. For that reason, it is important to test the reliability of tools used to deliver diagnoses and to measure the impact of external factors such as stressful situations on alterations in the data collected. Students are an interesting cohort for investigating the effects of stressful situations, as they have a variable number of stress-causing situations in their daily activity over a short period of time. BASIC PROCEDURE This investigation used 50 students, each of whom underwent two 21 -h tests involving the measurement of heart rate in beats per minute while they were carrying out their normal daily activities with their own tools. In this case study, we measured the impact of stressful situations with a tool for the self-diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, using data from students on holiday and during their final exams. We asked the students to select two days on which to use the device and perform the test. The requirements for the days were given to them as follows: for the first test, the students were required to select a day off when their main activity was rest; for the second test, the students were required to select a day in their final exams week that they expected to be the hardest day with the most stressful situations. This paper describes a case study in which we measured the impact of stressful situations with the students' own tools for the self-diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, using data from students on holiday and during their final exams week. These two datasets, as well as the results of the diagnosis, were compared. MAIN FINDINGS The analysis of the data showed that if the students were healthy, some cardiovascular conditions could change, and some tendencies could be found in the data, unrelated to stress. The addition of stressful situations does not have a direct impact on the diagnosis. Thus, we can assume that analysing the data with this methodology and technology will give us an accurate result independent of a person's activities during the test. CONCLUSIONS In this sense, and taking into account that the diagnosis was the same in both cases for all the students, we can say that stressful situations don't modify cardiac dynamics, and the diagnosis is useful in all situations. For that reason, the tool is reliable enough to estimate the cardiovascular health of a patient while he or she performs various daily activities by taking advantage of smartphones, commercial heart rate sensors, and IoT platforms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Paulo Gaona-García
- Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, Carrera 7 Nº 40B-53, Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Daniel Burgos
- Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR), Calle Almansa, 101, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Smith TW, Deits‐Lebehn C, Williams PG, Baucom BRW, Uchino BN. Toward a social psychophysiology of vagally mediated heart rate variability: Concepts and methods in self‐regulation, emotion, and interpersonal processes. SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY COMPASS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/spc3.12516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Bert N. Uchino
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Utah Salt Lake City Utah
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Herbell K, Zauszniewski JA, Williams E. Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among Demographically Diverse American Pregnant Women. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2020; 41:73-82. [PMID: 31770053 DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2019.1662145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a sensitive period of life where mental health is of utmost importance to the mother's and child's well-being peripartum and beyond. To better prevent and treat common mental health conditions such as depressive symptoms and perceived stress (defined in this study to encompass psychological and physiological (heart rate variability (HRV)) dimensions), it is crucial to examine and report differences in mental health outcomes among demographically diverse pregnant women. Therefore, the purpose of this secondary analysis (N = 79) was to determine if there are differences in mental health outcomes between pregnant women who differ across demographic factors, as well as to determine if demographic factors predict mental health outcomes when controlling for other demographic variables. Findings indicate that there were significant differences in depressive symptoms and perceived stress by all demographic factors except age. Marital status and total household income were the only significant predictors of depressive symptoms and perceived stress, respectively, when all other factors were controlled. There were no significant differences or correlations between demographic variables and HRV. Pregnant women may be predisposed to adverse mental health outcomes, illustrating the need for more refined interventions that are sensitive to pre-existing factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jaclene A Zauszniewski
- Case Western Reserve University, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Elizabeth Williams
- Case Western Reserve University, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Stange JP, Kleiman EM, Mermelstein RJ, Trull TJ. Using ambulatory assessment to measure dynamic risk processes in affective disorders. J Affect Disord 2019; 259:325-336. [PMID: 31610996 PMCID: PMC7250154 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rapid advances in the capability and affordability of digital technology have begun to allow for the intensive monitoring of psychological and physiological processes associated with affective disorders in daily life. This technology may enable researchers to overcome some limitations of traditional methods for studying risk in affective disorders, which often (implicitly) assume that risk factors are distal and static - that they do not change over time. In contrast, ambulatory assessment (AA) is particularly suited to measure dynamic "real-world" processes and to detect fluctuations in proximal risk for outcomes of interest. METHOD We highlight key questions about proximal and distal risk for affective disorders that AA methods (with multilevel modeling, or fully-idiographic methods) allow researchers to evaluate. RESULTS Key questions include between-subject questions to understand who is at risk (e.g., are people with more affective instability at greater risk than others?) and within-subject questions to understand when risk is most acute among those who are at risk (e.g., does suicidal ideation increase when people show more sympathetic activation than usual?). We discuss practical study design and analytic strategy considerations for evaluating questions of risk in context, and the benefits and limitations of self-reported vs. passively-collected AA. LIMITATIONS Measurements may only be as accurate as the observation period is representative of individuals' usual life contexts. Active measurement techniques are limited by the ability and willingness to self-report. CONCLUSIONS We conclude by discussing how monitoring proximal risk with AA may be leveraged for translation into personalized, real-time interventions to reduce risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P Stange
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, 1601 W Taylor St., Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
| | - Evan M Kleiman
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Department of Psychology, Tillett Hall, 53 Avenue E, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Robin J Mermelstein
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Psychology and Institute for Health Research and Policy, 1747 W Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL, 60608, USA
| | - Timothy J Trull
- University of Missouri, Department of Psychological Sciences, 210 McAlester Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Bailey T, Shahabi L, Tarvainen M, Shapiro D, Ottaviani C. Moderating effects of the valence of social interaction on the dysfunctional consequences of perseverative cognition: an ecological study in major depression and social anxiety disorder. ANXIETY STRESS AND COPING 2019; 32:179-195. [PMID: 30667270 DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2019.1570821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Major depression disorder (MDD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) are characterized by the use of perseverative cognition (PC) as a dysfunctional coping strategy. We sought to investigate the dysfunctional physiological and psychological consequences of PC and how the valence of social interactions moderates such consequences in these psychopathological conditions. DESIGN/METHODS The study combined 24-hour heart rate variability (HRV) and ecological momentary assessments in 48 individuals with MDD, SAD, and sex-matched controls. RESULTS In all participants, PC was associated with mood worsening and reduced ability of the parasympathetic nervous system, mainly the vagus, to inhibit sympathetic arousal (i.e., reduced HRV). Individuals with SAD had the highest frequency of daily PC, while those with MDD reported that PC interfered more with their ongoing activities. In SAD, daily PC was associated with significantly lower HRV after negative social interactions. Individuals with MDD reported higher levels of sadness during PC irrespective of the valence of the preceding social interaction but higher levels of anxiety and efforts to inhibit PC following positive interactions. CONCLUSIONS Results highlight the need to account for important moderators like the valence of social interaction when looking at the physiological consequences of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Bailey
- a Fielding Graduate University , Santa Barbara , CA , USA.,b University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - L Shahabi
- b University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - M Tarvainen
- c University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio , Finland.,d Kuopio University Hospital , Kuopio , Finland
| | - D Shapiro
- b University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - C Ottaviani
- e Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.,f IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation , Rome , Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Brouwer AM, van Dam E, van Erp JBF, Spangler DP, Brooks JR. Improving Real-Life Estimates of Emotion Based on Heart Rate: A Perspective on Taking Metabolic Heart Rate Into Account. Front Hum Neurosci 2018; 12:284. [PMID: 30061818 PMCID: PMC6054929 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracting information about emotion from heart rate in real life is challenged by the concurrent effect of physical activity on heart rate caused by metabolic need. “Non-metabolic heart rate,” which refers to the heart rate that is caused by factors other than physical activity, may be a more sensitive and more universally applicable correlate of emotion than heart rate itself. The aim of the present article is to explore the evidence that non-metabolic heart rate, as it has been determined up until now, indeed reflects emotion. We focus on methods using accelerometry since these sensors are readily available in devices suitable for daily life usage. The evidence that non-metabolic heart rate as determined by existing methods reflect emotion is limited. Alternative possible routes are explored. We conclude that for real-life cases, estimating the type and intensity of activities based on accelerometry (and other information), and in turn use those to determine the non-metabolic heart rate for emotion is most promising.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Marie Brouwer
- Department of Perceptual & Cognitive Systems, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, Netherlands
| | | | - Jan B F van Erp
- Department of Perceptual & Cognitive Systems, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Soesterberg, Netherlands.,Human Media Interaction, The University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Derek P Spangler
- Human Research and Engineering Directorate, US Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD, United States
| | - Justin R Brooks
- Human Research and Engineering Directorate, US Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hughes BM, Steffen PR, Thayer JF. The psychophysiology of stress and adaptation: Models, pathways, and implications. Int J Psychophysiol 2018; 131:1-3. [PMID: 29964069 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Hughes
- School of Psychology, National University of Galway, Ireland.
| | - Patrick R Steffen
- Deparment of Psychology, Brigham Young University, United States of America
| | - Julian F Thayer
- Deparment of Psychology, Ohio State University, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Brosschot JF, Verkuil B, Thayer JF. Generalized Unsafety Theory of Stress: Unsafe Environments and Conditions, and the Default Stress Response. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E464. [PMID: 29518937 PMCID: PMC5877009 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15030464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Prolonged physiological stress responses form an important risk factor for disease. According to neurobiological and evolution-theoretical insights the stress response is a default response that is always "on" but inhibited by the prefrontal cortex when safety is perceived. Based on these insights the Generalized Unsafety Theory of Stress (GUTS) states that prolonged stress responses are due to generalized and largely unconsciously perceived unsafety rather than stressors. This novel perspective necessitates a reconstruction of current stress theory, which we address in this paper. We discuss a variety of very common situations without stressors but with prolonged stress responses, that are not, or not likely to be caused by stressors, including loneliness, low social status, adult life after prenatal or early life adversity, lack of a natural environment, and less fit bodily states such as obesity or fatigue. We argue that in these situations the default stress response may be chronically disinhibited due to unconsciously perceived generalized unsafety. Also, in chronic stress situations such as work stress, the prolonged stress response may be mainly caused by perceived unsafety in stressor-free contexts. Thus, GUTS identifies and explains far more stress-related physiological activity that is responsible for disease and mortality than current stress theories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jos F Brosschot
- Institute of Psychology, Unit Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Bart Verkuil
- Institute of Psychology, Unit Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Julian F Thayer
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| |
Collapse
|