Breathwork: An Additional Treatment Option for Depression and Anxiety?
Lloyd Lalande, Matthew Bambling, Robert A. King, Roger Lowe
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy June 1, 2012 DOI: 10.1007/s10879-011-9180-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Anxiety Breathwork Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychotherapy Respiration Somatic |
| Key findings | Argues that breathwork's mental health claims currently rest on anecdotal clinical evidence, but reports qualified support for the theoretical assumptions of a three-component Integrative Breathwork Therapy model and its possible utility in treating anxiety and depression. Concludes that further research on specific efficacy may yield a useful additional treatment option with a different process of change from existing treatments. |
Abstract
Breathwork is an increasingly popular experiential approach to psychotherapy based on the use of a specific breathing technique, however, claims of positive mental health outcomes rely on anecdotal clinical evidence. To ascertain the likely efficacy of breathwork this review clarifies the approach and its theoretical assumptions and examines relevant empirical research relating to breathing inhibition, suppression of inner experience, and possible neurological and physiological effects. Additionally, research into mindfulness-based psychotherapy and yoga breathing-based interventions with comparable features to breathwork are examined. Findings suggest qualified support for the key theoretical assumptions of a three component breathwork model, referred to as Integrative Breathwork Therapy (IBT), and its possible utility in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Further research aimed at exploring specific efficacy of this approach for these disorders may yield a useful additional treatment option utilising a different process of change to existing treatments.
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 7
- Effects of conscious connected breathing on cortical brain activity, mood and state of consciousness in healthy adults Current Psychology September 8, 2023
- A Practitioner’s Guide to Breathwork in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Journal of Mental Health Counseling 2020
- Breathwork for Chronic Stress and Mental Health: Does Choosing a Specific Technique Matter? Medical Sciences August 13, 2025
- Development of Guided Respiration Mindfulness Therapy: Manualization and Evaluation of Therapist Training and Clinical Outcomes in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety Queensland University of Technology February 27, 2017
- Single-Session Group Breathwork Intervention for Chronic Pain: A Proof-of-Concept Study of Guided Respiration Mindfulness Therapy. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine May 1, 2026
and 2 more in the library
Cites 13
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1992
- A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation versus relaxation training: Effects on distress, positive states of mind, rumination, and distraction Annals of Behavioral Medicine February 1, 2007
and 8 more in the library