The effect of self-compassion versus mindfulness interventions on autonomic responses to stress in generalized anxiety disorders
Xuejun Qi, Yonghui Shen, Xianwei Che, Ying Wang, Xi Luo, Lijun Sun
Frontiers in Psychiatry February 4, 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1483827 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Non-randomized controlled study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 47 |
| Population | Patients with generalized anxiety disorder |
| Interventions | Self-compassion intervention Mindfulness intervention |
| Duration | 2-week intervention |
| Measures | Heart rate (electrocardiogram), state anxiety, positive affect, negative affect |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key points | Self-compassion plus treatment as usual uniquely decreased heart rate response to an induced stressor, whereas mindfulness plus treatment as usual did not. Both interventions lowered state anxiety and negative affect and raised positive affect around the stressor. Reduced heart rate response correlated with less negative emotion, which the authors offer as physiological evidence that self-compassion buffers stress reactivity in GAD. |
Abstract
Objective: Although research on psychological interventions in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has provided evidence of their effectiveness regarding self-reported outcomes, few studies have examined their psychophysiological effects. Heart rate is emerging as a potential biomarker of efficacy in anxiety disorders. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a self-compassion intervention versus a mindfulness intervention on physiological arousal in response to induced stress.
Methods: Forty-seven patients with GAD had heart rate data collected during a stress task before and after a 2-week pharmacological treatment (known as treatment as usual, TAU), a self-compassion intervention + TAU or a mindfulness intervention + TAU. They also reported state anxiety, positive affect, and negative affect at pre- and post- intervention before the stress task. ANOVAs were conducted to analyze the effects on electrocardiogram data self-reported measurements.
Results: Self-compassion intervention uniquely decreased heart rate response to a stressor whereas mindfulness intervention did not. Both treatments decreased state anxiety and negative affect to a stressor, while increased positive affect in this context. We also demonstrated a significant correlation between decreased heart rate response and less negative emotions.
Conclusion: The Findings provides novel physiological evidence that self-compassion interventions buffer stress reactivity in individuals with GAD. Attention shall be paid to the limitations in small and unequal sample size and a non-randomized study design.