Breathwork Interventions for Adults with Clinically Diagnosed Anxiety Disorders: A Scoping Review.
Brain Sciences February 2, 2023 Blerida Banushi, Madeline Brendle, Anya Ragnhildstveit et al.
Anxiety disorders are common but often underrecognized and undertreated in primary care. Dysfunctional breathing is a hallmark of anxiety disorders, yet standard treatments do not address breathing. This scoping review examined research on breathwork interventions for adults with clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders using DSM-5 criteria. From 1081 articles, sixteen clinical studies were included. A range of breathwork interventions yielded significant improvements in anxiety symptoms. Results on hyperventilation's role in treatment were contradictory in a few studies. The review supports the clinical utility of breathwork interventions and identifies gaps for future research.