Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback to Manage the Mental Health of Adults With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Pilot Study

Irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] is classified as a disorder of gut-brain interaction related to stress with no curative option. Heart rate variability biofeedback [HRV-BFB] is a non-drug therapy recently suggested to be relevant in reducing both autonomic nervous system [ANS] dysregulations and psychiatric comorbidities. Nevertheless, empirical evidence is still scarce and only a few studies have tested HRV-BFB in adults with IBS. Our aims were therefore to examine the effectiveness of HRV-BFB training on the psychophysiological states of 29 adults with IBS. The study took place in three sessions, spaced 24 days apart. In all sessions, participants completed self-report questionnaires to assess their psychological state (affectivity, anxiety, depression, perceived stress, coping strategy, life satisfaction, illness cognitions), ANS measurements were then recorded of them at rest, during completion of a mental task (reactivity), and while in recovery following this task. The first 24-day period was a control period without any practice, and the second was an intervention period with HRV-BFB. Participants practiced HRV-BFB daily for 5 min, three times a day, for 24 days. We found that HRV-BFB reduced psychological distress and the feeling of helplessness, and led to a decrease in sympathetic reactivity during the mental task. Our findings support the potential relevance of HRV-BFB to manage mental health in adults with IBS.