Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32556709›Full record

Trial reportApplied psychophysiology and biofeedback2020

Comparing Effectiveness of HRV-Biofeedback and Mindfulness for Workplace Stress Reduction: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Amelie Edith Brinkmann, Sophia Antonia Press, Eduard Helmert, Martin Hautzinger, Inna Khazan, Jan Vagedes

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07415915 (Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Training to Reduce Stress and Anxiety During Dentistry Students' Clinical Transition), which is not on this map. Cited by 34 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
34citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07415915 naenrolling by invitationnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Training to Reduce Stress and Anxiety During Dentistry Students' Clinical Transition

TypeinterventionalSponsorEgas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRLRan2026 to 2026Enrolled50ConditionsStress (Psychology), Anxiety, Psychological DistressArmsHeart Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRVB) Training
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

34 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  16. Closed-Loop Systems and Real-Time Neurofeedback in Mindfulness Meditation Research.Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging · 2025
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Amelie Edith BrinkmannDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Tuebingen, 72070, Tübingen, Germany. amelie.brinkmann@uni-tuebingen.de.ORCID 0000-0002-9484-3548
Sophia Antonia PressDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Tuebingen, 72070, Tübingen, Germany.
Eduard HelmertARCIM Institute for Academic Research in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, 70794, Filderstadt, Germany.
Martin HautzingerDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Tuebingen, 72070, Tübingen, Germany.
Inna KhazanHarvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Jan VagedesARCIM Institute for Academic Research in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, 70794, Filderstadt, Germany. j.vagedes@arcim-institute.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Psychophysiological disorders due to work-related stress continue to be highly costly for health systems and approaches for cost-effective and easily accessible interventions are much needed. Both heart rate variability-biofeedback (HRV-Bfb) and mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) have been empirically shown to reduce stress. This study compares these two interventions in the work context to a wait-list-control-group (WLC). In this three-armed randomized controlled trial (RCT), 69 healthy adults employed in the same organization were randomized to participate in HRV-Bfb, MBI or the WLC. Participants were assessed for psychophysiological parameters of stress (stress perception, coping, HRV parameters and cortisol) and stress related symptoms (depressive symptoms, psychological wellbeing, mindfulness and self-compassion). Participants trained using either HRV-Bfb or MBI for 6 weeks on a daily basis. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, after the intervention and at follow-up 12 weeks later. Results did not show any statistically significant differences between HRV-Bfb and MBI groups, and neither of the intervention groups (IGs) differed from the WLC. Findings suggest an overall reduction in stress for all groups, including the WLC, with mostly small to medium effect sizes. However, it is important to note that participants with higher baseline stress levels might benefit more from mindfulness and biofeedback-based stress reduction interventions. The results have to be interpreted with caution due to the relatively small sample size. MBI might have a slightly stronger effect on stress reduction in comparison to HRV-Bfb, as suggested by the effect sizes. This study highlights issues and challenges of the implementation of such interventions in corporate health management.

Indexed as

MindfulnessAdultBiofeedback, PsychologyFemaleHeart RateHumansMaleMeditationOccupational HealthOccupational StressSurveys and QuestionnairesHeart rate variability biofeedbackMindfulness meditationOccupational healthStress

Identifiers

PMID32556709
PMCPMC7644531

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.