Validation of a heart rate variability biofeedback as a therapeutic resource to reduce stress and anxiety

• Grant number: 14/00342-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Physiological Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Milena de Barros Viana
• Grantee: Juliana Dutra de Araujo Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Physical activities are, in general, associated to stress relief. But the effect of a physical activity may generate opposite results when it involves competition. Although a situation that involves competition always raises anxiety and stress levels (which interfere on competitive performance), athletes who seek for control over their stress/anxiety levels show optimum anxiety levels and satisfactory performance (Vieira et al., 2011). Considering that self-regulation of anxiety is a critical psychological variable to a better performance of athletes, (Matos, Cruz e Almeida, 2011), that relaxation is an important strategy that may be used by athletes to prepare for competition (Matos, Cruz e Almeida, 2011), and that the use of biofeedback techniques may effectively reduce high levels of stress/anxiety (Weinberg & Gould,2008), the goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback instrument to reduce levels of anxiety and stress in athletes. To evaluate quality of life, stress, and competitive anxiety the following instruments will be used: Athletes Profile Questionnaire, the World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF instrument (WHOQOL - BREF), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Lipp's Inventory of Stress Symptoms for Adults (ISSL), and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2). Those instruments will be applied before and after biofeedback training. The biofeedback equipment to be utilized is the EmWave® Desktop PC that measures the HRV, that is, the heartbeat alteration calculated based on the intervals between them. Low HRV means less vagus nerve activity and an increase of the activity of Sympathetic Nervous System. Low HRV has been related to low cognitive and emotional regulation, and to several psychopatologies, particularly disorders related to stress and anxiety. Therefore, interventions that improve the vagal tone and increase the HRV can alleviate the anxiety. The biofeedback training will ideally occur in five weekly sessions of 30 minutes each. (AU)