Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40072625›Full record

Trial reportJournal of neurology2025

Heart rate variability biofeedback in patients with functional dizziness.

Erik Simon, Ana Isabel Penzlin, Martin Arndt, Timo Siepmann, Kristian Barlinn

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
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

5 authors.

Erik SimonDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. Erik.Simon@ukdd.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-4228-8060
Ana Isabel PenzlinDepartment of Neurology, Rhön Klinikum, Campus Bad Neustadt, Bad Neustadt a.d. Saale, Germany.
Martin ArndtDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Timo SiepmannDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Kristian BarlinnDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFunctional dizziness is one of the most common causes of chronic dizziness. Associated psychiatric diseases such as depression and anxiety lead to significant impairment, possibly due to autonomic nervous system imbalance. We investigated whether heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback can modulate autonomic function in patients with functional dizziness.

methodsWe performed a randomized controlled study in 24 patients diagnosed functional dizziness for the first time. Patients received six 20 min sessions of HRV biofeedback or no intervention. We assessed HRV (time and frequency domains), sympathetic vasomotor function, sympathetic skin response and psychometric assessments at baseline, immediately post-intervention (or control period) and another 3 and 6 weeks later.

resultsPatients in the HRV biofeedback group showed improved cardiac autonomic function with elevated HRV time-dependent parameters immediately post-intervention [Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD): 71.2 ms ± 38 ms vs. 38.2 ms ± 18.5 ms, p = 0.014; Standard Deviation of all NN Intervals (SDNN): 78.3 ms ± 35.9 ms vs. 48.1 ms ± 20.5 ms, p = 0.001], increased HRV frequency-dependent parameter [Low Frequency (LF): p = 0.001], as well as reduced depressiveness (BDI-II: p = 0.0236). None of these parameters were changed in control patients (p = ns). Dizziness-associated symptoms and sympathetic function of vasculature and sweat glands were unaltered in both study arms.

conclusionIn a randomized controlled pilot study, HRV biofeedback led to improved autonomic cardiac function and alleviated symptoms of depression in patients with functional dizziness, most likely mediated by a predominantly parasympathetic effect.

Indexed as

Biofeedback, PsychologyDizzinessHeart RateAdultAgedAutonomic Nervous SystemFemaleGalvanic Skin ResponseHumansMaleMiddle AgedTreatment OutcomeDepressionHRVParasympatheticPPPDRMSSD

Identifiers

PMID40072625
PMCPMC11903525

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.