What the heart brings to therapy: A systematic review on heart rate variability contributions to psychotherapy research

• Michele Dufey ^[1] ; Tamara González ^[1] ; Tamara Bravo ^[1] ; Ana M. Fernández ^[2] ; Paulina Riquelme ^[1] ; Valentina Ramos ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidad de Chile

     Universidad de Chile

     Santiago, Chile

     
  2. [2] Universidad de Santiago de Chile

     Universidad de Santiago de Chile

     Santiago, Chile

     
• Localización: Revista de psicopatología y psicología clínica, ISSN 1136-5420, Vol. 28, Nº. 3, 2023, págs. 245-262
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.5944/rppc.37271
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Lo que el corazón trae a la terapia: Una revisión sistemática de las contribuciones de la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca a la investigación en psicoterapia
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • español

    El tono vagal es un constructo psicofisiológico indexado por la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardiaca (VFC) que se asocia con la regulación emocional, las habilidades interpersonales y la salud mental en poblaciones no clínicas y clínicas. Sin embargo, la evidencia acerca de su rol en la psicoterapia sigue siendo limitada y hasta la fecha no se ha presentado ninguna revisión que resuma los resultados obtenidos. El presente estudio pretende llenar este vacío presentando una revisión sistemática de los estudios de psicoterapia que evalúan el tono vagal de los pacientes en relación con las variables del proceso y los resultados de la terapia. Se realizó una búsqueda en las bases de datos SSCI (WoS), EBSCO y Psychology (ProQuest) database, arrojando un total de 23 estudios analizados cualitativamente. Los resultados mostraron evidencia mixta respecto del valor predictivo de la VFC para los resultados clínicos (p. ej., el nivel de síntomas), así como de los efectos de la psicoterapia en la VFC. La asociación entre la VFC y la alianza de trabajo ha mostrado ser consistentemente positiva, aunque en un número menor de investigaciones. Se discu-ten los hallazgos considerando las condiciones de evaluación de la VFC y el diseño de los estudios, resaltando el potencial valor de la VFC para informar sobre el nivel de recursos psicofisiológicos y la flexibilidad autonómica que los individuos traen a terapia.

  • English

    Vagal tone is a psychophysiological construct indexed by heart rate variability (HRV) that is associated with emotion regulation, interpersonal abilities, and mental health in nonclinical and clinical populations. However, the evidence concerning its role in psychotherapy is still limited and no review summarizing the obtained results has been reported to date. The present study aims to fill this gap by presenting a systematic review of psychotherapy studies that evaluate patients’ vagal tone regarding process variables and therapy outcomes. The databases SSCI (WoS), EBSCO, and Psychology (ProQuest) database were searched, yielding a total of 23 studies that were qualitatively analyzed. Results showed mixed evidence regarding the predictive value of HRV for clinical outcomes (e.g., symptom level), as well as the effects of psychotherapy on HRV. The association between HRV and working alliance has shown to be consistently positive, although in a smaller number of investigations. Findings are discussed considering HRV assessment conditions and study designs, highlighting the potential value of HRV to inform about the level of psychophysiological resources and autonomic flexibility that individuals bring to therapy

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