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Table 1 Summary table of study characteristics and protocol

From: Efficacy and Methodology of Remote Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Interventions for Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

References

Study design

Control

Country of study

Population

Average age (SD)

Sample size (num Female)

Intervention duration

Number of lab visits

HRV-B practice

Outcome measurement (psychometric)

Method

Devices and interface

Brinkmann et al. (2020)

RCT

WL

Germany

Healthy

43.27 (10.45)

47 (26)

6 weeks

1

30 min daily

BDI-II, FFA-14

MR

Qiu, SoD

Burch et al. (2020)

RCPS

WL

USA

Cancer

59.5 (2.55)

34 (29)

4–6 weeks

5

15 min daily

BDI-II, PSS

MR

Heartmath emWave, SoD

Cui et al. (2020)

RCT

TAU

China

Pregnant

28.7 (3.52)

20 (20)

12 weeks

2

30 min daily

PSQI

MR

Experimenter designed hardware and app

Cuneo et al. (2023)

RCPS

WL

USA

Migraine

42.38 (15.21)

36 (30)

12 weeks

1

10 min 3 × per week

PHQ-8, PSS

SM

Polar H10, Oculus VR software

Eddie et al. (2014)

NRPS

TAU

USA

SUD

21.85 (1.85)

41 (0)

3 weeks

3

20 min 2 × daily

PACS, PSS

SM

Heartmath emWave, SoD

Eddie et al. (2018)

NRCT

WL

USA

SUD

23.6 (5)

36 (10)

12 weeks

5

15 min 2 × daily

PSS, PACS, BAI, BDI-II

SM

StressEraser, SoD

Kim (2014

QEP

TAU

USA

SUD

21.8 (1.85)

42 (0)

3 weeks

3

20 min 2 × daily

PSS, PACS *

SM

Heartmath emWave, SoD

Kudo et al. (2014)

QEP

TAU

Japan

Post-Partum

32.1 (6.21)

55 (55)

4 weeks

2

Daily, no set duration

EPDS

MR

StressEraser, SoD

Limmer et al. (2022)

RCT**

TAU

Germany

Myocardial Infarction

60.5 (9.37)

46 (7)

12 weeks

5

5 min 3 × daily

No relevant assessments

MR

Qiu, SoD

Schumann et al. (2022)

RCPS

WL

USA

PTSD

50.6 (14.38)

35 (5)

4 weeks

5

5 min daily

PCL-5, BDI-II

SM

Heartmath Inner Balance Device, Inner Balance app

Schumann et al. (2022)

NRPS

WL

Germany

Depression

41 (15)

25 (19)

6 weeks

2

2 × 11 min, 5 × per week

BDI, STAI, PSS

SM

Polar H10, Smartphone app

Tatschl et al. (2020)

RCPS

TAU

Austria

Severe Mental Illness

48.7 (9.4)

68 (43)

5 weeks

5

10 min 2 × daily

BDI-II

MR

Qiu, SoD

Vacher et al. (2023)

RCPS

NT

Switzerland

Athlete

15.45 (2.33)

27 (11)

6 weeks

6

10 min 2 × daily

PSS

SM

Polar H7, Breath/Breath + app

Vagedes et al. (2019)

RCT

TAU

Germany

Dysmenorrhea

29.7 (8.0)

40 (40)

12 weeks

5

15 min daily

SF-12

MR

Qiu, SoD

van der Zwan et al. (2019)

RCT

WL

the Netherlands

Pregnant

31.6 (5.9)

50 (50)

5 weeks

5

10–40 min daily, increasing

DASS (D, A, S), PSQI

SM

StressEraser, SoD

Wang et al. (2024)

QEP

TAU

Taiwan

Post Stroke

60.1 (12.3)

62 (19)

12 weeks

8

10 min 2 × daily

PSS

PP

StressEraser, SoD

Winstead (2019)

RCPS

TAU

USA

PTSD

54 (11)

85 (28)

6 weeks

6

15 min daily

BDI-II, PSS

MR

Heartmath emWave, SoD

Yen et al. (2022)

RCT

TAU

Taiwan

SUD

37.27 (9.53)

61 (0)

4 weeks

4

20 min 2 × daily

PSQI, CES-D,

SM

Heartmath emWave, SoD

  1. RCPS, Randomized Controlled Pilot Study; NRPS, Non-Randomized Pilot Study; RCT, Randomized Controlled Trial; NRCT, Non-Randomized Controlled Trial; RPS, Randomized Pilot Study; QES, Quasi-Experimental Study; WL, Wait List Controlled; TAU, Treatment As Usual; NT, No Treatment; SUD, Substance Use Disorder; PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; PCL-5, PTSD Checklist-5; BDI-II, Beck Depression Index-II; PACS, Penn Alcohol Craving Scale; PSS, Perceived Stress Scale; PSQI, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; BAI, Beck Anxiety Index; DASS-21, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales; FFA-14, Frierburg Mindfulness Inventory; STAI, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory); CES-D, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; SF-12, Short Form Health Survey; PHQ-8/9, Patient Health Questionnaire. MR, Maximize Resonance; SM, Stepped Method; PP, Preset Pace. SoD, screen on device. * No post intervention data. **RCT not registered