Heart Rate Variability and the Efficacy of Biofeedback in Heroin Users with Depressive Symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
Low heart rate variability (HRV) has been confirmed in heroin users, but the effects of heart-rate-variability-biofeedback in heroin users remain unknown. This study examined (1) correlations between depression and HRV indices; (2) group differences in HRV indices among a heroin-user group, a group with major depressive disorder but no heroin use, and healthy controls; and (3) the effects of heart-rate-variability-biofeedback on depressive symptoms, HRV indices, and respiratory rates within the heroin group.


METHODS
All participants completed a depression questionnaire and underwent electrocardiogram measurements, and group differences in baseline HRV indices were examined. The heroin group underwent electrocardiogram and respiration rate measurements at baseline, during a depressive condition, and during a happiness condition, before and after which they took part in the heart-rate-variability-biofeedback program. The effects of heart-rate-variability-biofeedback on depressive symptoms, HRV indices, and respiration rates were examined.


RESULTS
There was a negative correlation between depression and high frequency of HRV, and a positive correlation between depression and low frequency to high frequency ratio of HRV. The heroin group had a lower overall and high frequency of HRV, and a higher low frequency/high frequency ratio than healthy controls. The heart-rate-variability-biofeedback intervention increased HRV indices and decreased respiratory rates from pre-intervention to post-intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced parasympathetic and increased sympathetic activations were found in heroin users. Heart-rate-variability- biofeedback was an effective non-pharmacological intervention to restore autonomic balance.
Department of Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
I-Mei
IM
Lin
Kaohsiung Drug Abuser Treatment Center, Agency of Corrections, Ministry of Justice, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Jiun-Min
JM
Ko
Institute of Gerontology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Sheng-Yu
SY
Fan
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan.|Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Cheng-Fang
CF
Yen
Autonomic nervous system; Depression; Heart-rate−variability−biofeedback; Heroin