The Applications of the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and HRV Biofeedback in Modern Psychotherapy
Martin Kramar
NeuroRegulation June 27, 2025 DOI: 10.15540/nr.12.2.98 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 22-year-old male with extreme anxiety and palpitations |
| Interventions | Heart rate variability biofeedback Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Breathing exercises |
| Duration | 12-week psychotherapeutic program |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychotherapist Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Biofeedback Cognition Clinical psychology |
| Key findings | Combined HRVB and MBCT shifted a patient from a stressed sympathetic autonomic state to a relaxed parasympathetic state and improved emotional balance. |
Abstract
This study evaluated the effectiveness of heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in diagnosing and treating stress and anxiety. HRVB provides real-time data on the autonomic nervous system (ANS), highlighting the balance between its sympathetic and parasympathetic functions, while MBCT, combined with breathing exercises, targets the parasympathetic system, promoting positive thought reconstruction. A 22-year-old male with extreme anxiety and palpitations underwent a 12-week psychotherapeutic program involving HRVB and MBCT techniques. He practiced daily personalized breathing and mindfulness exercises, integrating them into daily activities. The results showed a shift from a stressed sympathetic ANS state to a relaxed parasympathetic one. He also demonstrated the ability to control his heart rate and improve thought patterns, leading to better emotional balance. This study highlights the combined potential of HRVB and MBCT in enhancing stress resilience, vitality, and autonomic balance, highlighting HRVB's pivotal role in tracking patient progress in clinical settings.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain sources of EEG gamma frequency during volitionally meditation-induced, altered states of consciousness, and experience of the self Advanced meditator | 2001 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Mindfulness Meditation for Alcohol Relapse Prevention: A Feasibility Pilot Study Adult alcohol-dependent graduates of an intensive outpatient program | 2008 | Prospective case series | n = 19 |
| How does it feel to lack a sense of boundaries? A case study of a long-term mindfulness meditator. A single long-term mindfulness practitioner (S) with 40 years of practice in... | 2015 | Qualitative case study | n = 1 |
| Loving‐kindness meditation to enhance recovery from negative symptoms of schizophrenia Individuals suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders with persistent negative... | 2009 | Case study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Problem Gambling A female problem gambler | 2011 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Short-term autonomic and cardiovascular effects of mindfulness body scan meditation Annals of Behavioral Medicine November 15, 2006
- Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Stress, Heart Rate Variability, Affect, and Wellbeing among People with Schizophrenia International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health November 1, 2021
- Individuals with tension and migraine headaches exhibit increased heart rate variability during post-stress mindfulness meditation practice but a decrease during a post-stress control condition - A randomized, controlled experiment. International Journal of Psychophysiology December 2016
- Mindfulness meditation, well-being, and heart rate variability: a preliminary investigation into the impact of intensive Vipassana meditation. International Journal of Psychophysiology September 1, 2013
and 3 more in the library