The individualisation of autogenic training for the reduction of anxiety by using the biofeedback method based on monitoring the heart rate variability

Biofeedback, temelječ na variabilnosti srčne frekvence (HRV biofeedback), neposredno spodbuja barorefleks, respiratorno sinusno aritmijo, parasimpatično aktivnost in stimulira različne homeostatične reflekse. Pri HRV biofeedbacku se ljudi uči počasnega dihanja pri njihovi resonančni frekvenci, ki se giblje med 6,5 in 4,5 dihalnimi ciklusi na minuto. Raziskave ugotavljajo, da naj bi tako dihanje pomagalo pri spoprijemanju s stresom in zniževanju anksioznosti. Namen naše magistrske naloge je bil preučiti učinkovitost avtogenega treninga na zniževanje anksioznosti, če mu dodamo HRV biofeedback. Na vzorcu 47 udeležencev, ki smo jih razdelili v dve skupini, smo preverjali, ali prihaja do razlik, če eno skupino naučimo dihanja pri njihovi specifični resonančni frekvenci, medtem ko so v kontrolni skupini udeleženci dihali s 5,5 dihalnimi ciklusi na minuto. Vsi udeleženci so prilagojen avtogeni trening izvajali dnevno v obdobju dveh tednov. Rezultati so pokazali, da je po intervenciji prišlo do pomembnega znižanja anksioznih simptomov pri obeh skupinah, ni pa prišlo do razlik med samima skupinama. Prav tako nismo zabeležili spremembe v variabilnost srčne frekvence pri udeležencih. Kljub temu naša intervencija omogoča enostavno prilagoditev različnih tehnik sproščanja s kombinacijo počasnega dihanja v območju resonančne frekvence, kar lahko učinkovito znižuje anksioznost pri subklinični skupini posameznikov.Biofeedback, based on heart rate variability (HRV biofeedback), directly promotes baroreflex, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and parasympathetic activity, and stimulates various homeostatic reflexes. In HRV biofeedback, people learn to breathe slowly at their resonant frequency, ranging between 6.5 and 4.5 respiratory cycles per minute. Research shows that such breathing is supposed to help cope with stress and reduce anxiety. The purpose of this master\u27s thesis was to examine the effectiveness of autogenic training on reducing anxiety if HRV biofeedback is added to it. In a sample of 47 participants, divided into two groups, it was examined whether there were differences if one group was taught to breathe at their specific resonant frequency, while in the other, i.e., the control group, participants breathed at 5.5 breath cycles per minute. For two weeks, all participants daily performed adapted autogenic training. The results showed that, after the intervention, there was a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms in both groups, but no differences between the groups themselves. Also, no change in heart rate variability in participants was recorded. Nevertheless, our intervention allows for easy adaptation of different relaxation techniques with a combination of slow breathing in the resonant frequency range, which can effectively reduce anxiety in the subclinical group of individuals