The Relevance of Heart Rate Variability for Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy
Brain Sciences March 25, 2026 Donald Moss
This review explains heart rate variability (HRV), its connection to the autonomic nervous system, and its role as a biomarker for health and disease. Higher HRV correlates with youth, active lifestyle, and good health, while lower HRV is linked to medical and psychological disorders. HRV serves as an index of autonomic dysregulation, prefrontal cortical function, and psychopathology. The review argues that higher HRV is associated with traits beneficial for psychotherapy and hypnotherapy, such as emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility. It encourages therapists to use strategies like HRV biofeedback, lifestyle changes, and self-hypnosis to increase patients' HRV before and during therapy to enhance treatment outcomes.