A Systematic Review of a Polyvagal Perspective on Embodied Contemplative Practices as Promoters of Cardiorespiratory Coupling and Traumatic Stress Recovery for PTSD and OCD: Research Methodologies and State of the Art
Andrea Poli, Angelo Gemignani, F. Soldani, Mario Miccoli
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health November 1, 2021 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182211778 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Cross-sectional Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6 |
| Population | Adults with PTSD or OCD |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-related interventions compassion-related meditations |
| Topics | Meditation PTSD |
| Citations | 21 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-related interventions increased vagal tone and improved PTSD and OCD symptoms. |
Abstract
Baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) has been proposed as a transdiagnostic biomarker of stress vulnerability across psychopathologies, and a reliable association between PTSD, OCD and lower resting RSA was found. Contemplative practices have been linked to the activation of the vagus as well as to an increased RSA that, according to the polyvagal theory, reflects the activation of the ventral vagal complex (VVC) and may promote PTSD and OCD recovery. PubMed and Scopus databases were selected to conduct a search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, and A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR-2) was used to appraise the methodological quality for this systematic review. Six articles met the inclusion criteria (one cross-sectional study, one study with pre-post measurements, two cohort studies and two RCT studies). Mindfulness-related interventions promoted parasympathetic activity, an increased vagal tone and improvements in PTSD and OCD symptoms. According to the polyvagal theory, mindfulness-related and compassion-related meditations would be conceptualized as neural exercises expanding the capacity of the ventral vagal complex to regulate the present state and to promote resilience. Clinical and methodological issues are discussed.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- The integrative process promoted by EMDR in dissociative disorders: neurobiological mechanisms, psychometric tools, and intervention efficacy on the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic Frontiers in Psychology September 1, 2023
- Терапевтическое присутствие: взгляд через созерцательные практики Психологические исследования July 24, 2024
- Do Contemplative Practices Promote Trauma Recovery? A Narrative Review from 2018 to 2023. Healthcare November 7, 2025
- Deep rest: An integrative model of how contemplative practices combat stress and enhance the body's restorative capacity. Psychological Review December 25, 2023
- Deep Rest: An Integrative Model of How Contemplative Practices Combat Stress and Enhance the Body’s Restorative Capacity PsyArXiv December 20, 2022
and 1 more in the library
Cites 20
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine May 1, 2009
- Compassion-based emotion regulation up-regulates experienced positive affect and associated neural networks Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience February 19, 2015
- Editorial: What can Neuroscience Learn from Contemplative Practices? Frontiers in Psychology November 10, 2015
- Is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Effective for People with Hypertension? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 30 Years of Evidence. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health March 11, 2021
- Mindfulness, Compassion, and Self-Compassion Among Health Care Professionals: What's New? A Systematic Review Frontiers in Psychology July 31, 2020
and 15 more in the library