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Review
. 2022 Dec;47(4):273-287.
doi: 10.1007/s10484-022-09572-0. Epub 2022 Nov 22.

Heart Rate Variability: A Measure of Cardiovascular Health and Possible Therapeutic Target in Dysautonomic Mental and Neurological Disorders

Martin Siepmann  1   2 , Kerstin Weidner  3 , Katja Petrowski  4 , Timo Siepmann  5
Affiliations
Review

Heart Rate Variability: A Measure of Cardiovascular Health and Possible Therapeutic Target in Dysautonomic Mental and Neurological Disorders

Martin Siepmann et al. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Mental illness such as depression and anxiety as well as cerebrovascular disease are linked to impairment of neurocardiac function mediated by changes to the autonomic nervous system with increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic activity. Autonomic neurocardiac function can be evaluated by computing heart rate variability (HRV). Over the past decades, research has demonstrated the diagnostic value of HRV as independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality and as disease marker in progressive autonomic nervous system disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Here we summarize our studies on HRV and its therapeutic modulation in the context of psychopharmacology as well as psychiatric and neurological disorders to honor the life of Professor Evgeny Vaschillo, the true pioneer of HRV research who sadly passed away on November 21st, 2020.

Keywords: Autonomic; Heart; Neurocardiac; Psychocardiology; Psychosomatic.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Heart rate variability biofeedback training. Illustration of a subject undergoing HRV biofeedback. The heart rate is continuously captured using an ear clip pulse oximetry sensor and HRV is computed in real time with visualization on the screen (balloon). Image by Antje Siepmann
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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