Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback to Manage the Mental Health of Adults With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] is classified as a disorder of gut‐brain interaction related to stress with no curative option. Heart rate variability biofeedback [HRV‐BFB] is a non‐drug therapy recently suggested to be relevant in reducing both autonomic nervous system [ANS] dysregulations and psychiatric comorbidities. Nevertheless, empirical evidence is still scarce and only a few studies have tested HRV‐BFB in adults with IBS. Our aims were therefore to examine the effectiveness of HRV‐BFB training on the psychophysiological states of 29 adults with IBS. The study took place in three sessions, spaced 24 days apart. In all sessions, participants completed self‐report questionnaires to assess their psychological state (affectivity, anxiety, depression, perceived stress, coping strategy, life satisfaction, illness cognitions), ANS measurements were then recorded of them at rest, during completion of a mental task (reactivity), and while in recovery following this task. The first 24‐day period was a control period without any practice, and the second was an intervention period with HRV‐BFB. Participants practiced HRV‐BFB daily for 5 min, three times a day, for 24 days. We found that HRV‐BFB reduced psychological distress and the feeling of helplessness, and led to a decrease in sympathetic reactivity during the mental task. Our findings support the potential relevance of HRV‐BFB to manage mental health in adults with IBS.