Breathwork Interventions for Adults with Clinically Diagnosed Anxiety Disorders: A Scoping Review.
Blerida Banushi, Madeline Brendle, Anya Ragnhildstveit, Tara Murphy, Claire Moore, Johannes Egberts, Reid Robison
Brain Sciences February 2, 2023 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020256 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Scoping review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | breathwork interventions |
| Topics | Anxiety Breathwork |
| Keywords | Agoraphobia Anxiety disorders Diaphragmatic breathing Hyperventilation Stress |
| Key findings | Breathwork interventions yielded significant improvements in anxiety symptoms in adults with clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders. |
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are the most common group of mental disorders, but they are often underrecognized and undertreated in primary care. Dysfunctional breathing is a hallmark of anxiety disorders; however, mainstays of treatments do not tackle breathing in patients suffering anxiety. This scoping review aims to identify the nature and extent of the available research literature on the efficacy of breathwork interventions for adults with clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders using the DSM-5 classification system. Using the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews, a search of PubMed, Embase, and Scopus was conducted using terms related to anxiety disorders and breathwork interventions. Only clinical studies using breathwork (without the combination of other interventions) and performed on adult patients diagnosed with an anxiety disorder using the DSM-5 classification system were included. From 1081 articles identified across three databases, sixteen were included for the review. A range of breathwork interventions yielded significant improvements in anxiety symptoms in patients clinically diagnosed with anxiety disorders. The results around the role of hyperventilation in treatment of anxiety were contradictory in few of the examined studies. This evidence-based review supports the clinical utility of breathwork interventions and discusses effective treatment options and protocols that are feasible and accessible to patients suffering anxiety. Current gaps in knowledge for future research directions have also been identified.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on breathwork, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coupling of respiration and attention via the locus coeruleus: Effects of meditation and pranayama | 2018 | Review with original findings | |
| High ventilation breathwork practices: An overview of their effects, mechanisms, and considerations for clinical applications. | 2023 | Review | |
| Breathwork in body psychotherapy: Towards a more unified theory and practice | 2011 | Review | |
| A Practitioner’s Guide to Breathwork in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 2020 | Review | |
| Bhramari Pranayama as an aid to meditation: A review of classical yoga texts | 2020 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 20
- Effects of conscious connected breathing on cortical brain activity, mood and state of consciousness in healthy adults Current Psychology September 8, 2023
- Epigenetic Echoes: Bridging Nature, Nurture, and Healing Across Generations. International Journal of Molecular Sciences March 27, 2025
- Decreased CO2 saturation during circular breathwork supports emergence of altered states of consciousness. Communications Psychology April 13, 2025
- Breathwork for Chronic Stress and Mental Health: Does Choosing a Specific Technique Matter? Medical Sciences August 13, 2025
- Effects of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) Breath Meditation on Heart Rate Variability, Sleep and Mental Health in Healthy Individuals : A Pilot and Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial medRxiv January 5, 2025
and 15 more in the library
Cites 6
- Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—Clinical Applications and Guidelines The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine August 1, 2005
- Breath of Life: The Respiratory Vagal Stimulation Model of Contemplative Activity Frontiers in Human Neuroscience October 9, 2018
- Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood and reduce physiological arousal Cell Reports Medicine 2023
- Holotropic Breathwork: The Potential Role of a Prolonged, Voluntary Hyperventilation Procedure as an Adjunct to Psychotherapy The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine September 1, 2007
- Measure of Significance of Holotropic Breathwork in the Development of Self-Awareness. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine November 13, 2015
and 1 more in the library