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4 papers
This 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis pooled data from 223 studies to see if voluntary slow breathing (VSB) changes heart rate variability that reflects parasympathetic (vagal) control of the heart. The authors found that VSB increased vagally-mediated heart rate variability during breathing sessions, right after a single session, and after…
This review found that mental health disorders are common and closely linked with worse heart health. People with conditions like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or PTSD have higher rates of cardiovascular disease and higher death rates from it. The reasons include biology, behaviours, and problems in health care. The…
This small open-label study tested whether therapists and patients could walk outside during trauma therapy sessions. Most people joined and found walking acceptable. Walking happened in about two-thirds of sessions. Some PTSD and stress scores were lower after 12 weeks, but the study had no control group and further randomized…
This mixed-methods study used NHS electronic health records and interviews to look at people with major depressive disorder in one large UK trust. Using a common definition of treatment-resistant depression (failure to respond to at least two antidepressant trials), the researchers found TRD was common (48% of the sample) and…
