How to modify autonomic cardiovascular regulation? Positive effects of aerobic exercise and Heartrate-Variability-Biofeedback

Mussgay, L., and Rüddel, H.
Psychosomatic Hospital, St.-Franziska-Stift, Bad Kreuznach; Department of Behavioral Medicine and Rehabilitation, Centre for Psychobiological and Psychosomatic Research, University of Trier

Deficient autonomic cardiovascular regulation (ACR) is a concomitant feature of several severe illness states (i.e. depression, hypertension, anxiety and somatoform disorder). The question arises by what means these observed dysfunctions can be reduced. In our laboratory data of three experimental trials are available. Aerobic exercise was administered in somatoform and anxiety patients (study 1), heartrate-variability-biofeedback in hypertensive (study 2) and depressive patients (study 3). ACR was indexed by heartrate-variability (HRV) and baroreflex-sensitivity (BRS), established by spectral analysis. In 89 subjects of study 1 BRS-increase was correlated with the increase of exercise. HRV was higher in the experimental group, reactivity was slightly diminished. In studies 2 (N=36) and 3 (N=45) hypertension and depression were only mildly changed, ACR, however, was positively affected, especially during the first phase of the intervention. The findings show, that an alteration of ACR dysfunction is possible, but that a high dose of either exercise or biofeedback is necessary.

Symposium 28: Cardiovascular psychophysiology
13.06.2009, 09:00-10:15
Seminarraum 10