Project overview
This PhD research investigates the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on heart rate variability (HRV) in adults with depression and/or anxiety disorders. HRV reflects variations in the time intervals between consecutive heartbeats and provides a non-invasive measure of cardiac autonomic regulation, which is linked to physiological responses to stress and emotional regulation. Although CBT is an established psychological treatment for depression and anxiety, its effects on physiological functioning, particularly HRV, remain less well understood.
This research aims to explore whether HRV can serve as an objective physiological measure for tracking changes in mental health following CBT interventions, complementing traditional self-report measures of psychological symptoms.
The research involves several interconnected projects:
1. Systematic review and meta-analysis: Synthesising existing evidence on the effects of CBT on HRV in adults with depression and/or anxiety disorders.
2. University student training programme: Evaluating changes in HRV and psychological symptoms throughout a brief, group-based CBT-oriented programme designed to improve stress and low mood in university students.
3. Umbrella review and meta-analysis: Investigating the effects of non-pharmacological interventions for mental disorders on HRV by systematically reviewing and synthesising evidence from existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses. This project aims to provide a broader understanding of how different non-pharmacological interventions may influence cardiac autonomic regulation across mental health conditions.
4. Clinical investigation: Examining changes in HRV among adults receiving CBT for depression and/or anxiety disorders in clinical settings.
By integrating psychological and physiological assessments and synthesising evidence across interventions and populations, this research seeks to advance our understanding of the relationship between psychological treatments, autonomic nervous system functioning, and mental health. Ultimately, the findings may inform the development of more comprehensive approaches to evaluating psychological treatment outcomes.
This research aims to explore whether HRV can serve as an objective physiological measure for tracking changes in mental health following CBT interventions, complementing traditional self-report measures of psychological symptoms.
The research involves several interconnected projects:
1. Systematic review and meta-analysis: Synthesising existing evidence on the effects of CBT on HRV in adults with depression and/or anxiety disorders.
2. University student training programme: Evaluating changes in HRV and psychological symptoms throughout a brief, group-based CBT-oriented programme designed to improve stress and low mood in university students.
3. Umbrella review and meta-analysis: Investigating the effects of non-pharmacological interventions for mental disorders on HRV by systematically reviewing and synthesising evidence from existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses. This project aims to provide a broader understanding of how different non-pharmacological interventions may influence cardiac autonomic regulation across mental health conditions.
4. Clinical investigation: Examining changes in HRV among adults receiving CBT for depression and/or anxiety disorders in clinical settings.
By integrating psychological and physiological assessments and synthesising evidence across interventions and populations, this research seeks to advance our understanding of the relationship between psychological treatments, autonomic nervous system functioning, and mental health. Ultimately, the findings may inform the development of more comprehensive approaches to evaluating psychological treatment outcomes.
