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Fincham GW, Kartar A, Uthaug MV, Anderson B, Hall L, Nagai Y, Critchley H, Colasanti A. High ventilation breathwork practices: An overview of their effects, mechanisms, and considerations for clinical applications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 155:105453. [PMID: 37923236 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
High Ventilation Breathwork (HVB) refers to practices employing specific volitional manipulation of breathing, with a long history of use to relieve various forms of psychological distress. This paper seeks to offer a consolidative insight into potential clinical application of HVB as a treatment of psychiatric disorders. We thus review the characteristic phenomenological and neurophysiological effects of these practices to inform their mechanism of therapeutic action, safety profiles and future clinical applications. Clinical observations and data from neurophysiological studies indicate that HVB is associated with extraordinary changes in subjective experience, as well as with profound effects on central and autonomic nervous systems functions through modulation of neurometabolic parameters and interoceptive sensory systems. This growing evidence base may guide how the phenomenological effects of HVB can be understood, and potentially harnessed in the context of such volitional perturbation of psychophysiological state. Reports of putative beneficial effects for trauma-related, affective, and somatic disorders invite further research to obtain detailed mechanistic knowledge, and rigorous clinical testing of these potential therapeutic uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy W Fincham
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Department of Neuroscience, University of Sussex, UK; University of Sussex, School of Psychology, Brighton, UK.
| | - Amy Kartar
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Department of Neuroscience, University of Sussex, UK
| | - Malin V Uthaug
- The Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, UK; Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - Brittany Anderson
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
| | - Lottie Hall
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Department of Neuroscience, University of Sussex, UK
| | - Yoko Nagai
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Department of Neuroscience, University of Sussex, UK
| | - Hugo Critchley
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Department of Neuroscience, University of Sussex, UK
| | - Alessandro Colasanti
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Department of Neuroscience, University of Sussex, UK; Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
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Bentley TGK, D’Andrea-Penna G, Rakic M, Arce N, LaFaille M, Berman R, Cooley K, Sprimont P. Breathing Practices for Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Conceptual Framework of Implementation Guidelines Based on a Systematic Review of the Published Literature. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1612. [PMID: 38137060 PMCID: PMC10741869 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13121612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety and stress plague populations worldwide. Voluntary regulated breathing practices offer a tool to address this epidemic. We examined peer-reviewed published literature to understand effective approaches to and implementation of these practices. PubMed and ScienceDirect were searched to identify clinical trials evaluating isolated breathing-based interventions with psychometric stress/anxiety outcomes. Two independent reviewers conducted all screening and data extraction. Of 2904 unique articles, 731 abstracts, and 181 full texts screened, 58 met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-four of the studies' 72 interventions were effective. Components of effective and ineffective interventions were evaluated to develop a conceptual framework of factors associated with stress/anxiety reduction effectiveness. Effective breath practices avoided fast-only breath paces and sessions <5 min, while including human-guided training, multiple sessions, and long-term practice. Population, other breath paces, session duration ≥5 min, and group versus individual or at-home practices were not associated with effectiveness. Analysis of interventions that did not fit this framework revealed that extensive standing, interruptions, involuntary diaphragmatic obstruction, and inadequate training for highly technical practices may render otherwise promising interventions ineffective. Following this evidence-based framework can help maximize the stress/anxiety reduction benefits of breathing practices. Future research is warranted to further refine this easily accessible intervention for stress/anxiety relief.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya G. K. Bentley
- Health and Human Performance Foundation, Los Angeles, CA 90272, USA (R.B.); (K.C.)
| | - Gina D’Andrea-Penna
- Health and Human Performance Foundation, Los Angeles, CA 90272, USA (R.B.); (K.C.)
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Marina Rakic
- Health and Human Performance Foundation, Los Angeles, CA 90272, USA (R.B.); (K.C.)
| | - Nick Arce
- Health and Human Performance Foundation, Los Angeles, CA 90272, USA (R.B.); (K.C.)
| | - Michelle LaFaille
- Health and Human Performance Foundation, Los Angeles, CA 90272, USA (R.B.); (K.C.)
| | - Rachel Berman
- Health and Human Performance Foundation, Los Angeles, CA 90272, USA (R.B.); (K.C.)
| | - Katie Cooley
- Health and Human Performance Foundation, Los Angeles, CA 90272, USA (R.B.); (K.C.)
| | - Preston Sprimont
- Health and Human Performance Foundation, Los Angeles, CA 90272, USA (R.B.); (K.C.)
- Department of Kinesiology, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA
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Malviya S, Zupan B, Meredith P. Alternative interventions in clinical mental health settings: A survey of mental health professionals' perceptions. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2022; 49:101668. [PMID: 36179597 PMCID: PMC9487191 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shikha Malviya
- School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia,Corresponding author. Occupational Therapy, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences CQUniversity Australia, Building 34/ Office 1.19, Bruce Highway Rockhampton, 4701, Queensland, Australia
| | - Barbra Zupan
- School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pamela Meredith
- School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, Australia
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Nowakowski-Sims E. Integrative Body, Mind, and Spirit Interventions used with Parents in the Child Welfare System. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2022; 15:121-129. [PMID: 35222779 PMCID: PMC8837741 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-021-00388-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Parenting is a critical component of child welfare's intervention efforts; however, child welfare interventions attempt to correct dysfunctional parenting practices rather than address their shared underlying causes, such as parental stress and trauma. Ongoing stress can overload a parents' ability to access logical decision-making capabilities. Parents can utilize integrative body, mind, and spirit interventions to remain calm when they experience chronic stress. These interventions can offer stressed out parents techniques that focus on emotional regulation, and subsequently reduce the risk of child maltreatment. This article offers a comprehensive review of the literature identifying parental stress as a critical component of child welfare as well as the usefulness of including integrative mind, body, and spirit interventions with parents in the child welfare system.
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Huxtable C, Solomon M. Breathing and relating: exploring a therapist’s heuristic experience. BODY MOVEMENT AND DANCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/17432979.2020.1813808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cordelia Huxtable
- Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Master of Psychotherapy, Graduand of Auckland University of Technology, Wakefield, New Zealand
| | - Margot Solomon
- Auckland University of Technology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Department of Psychotherapy and Counselling. MAAGP (Australian Association of Group Psychotherapy, MNZAP (New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists), MGASi (Group Analytic Society International), Auckland, New Zealand
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Mulloy CW. Learning to yield: body psychotherapy and complex posttraumatic stress disorder. BODY MOVEMENT AND DANCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/17432979.2019.1673822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte W. Mulloy
- Graduate School of Counselling and Psychology, Somatic Counselling, Naropa University Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
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