Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback in Autistic Spectrum Disorder, v1

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    An Investigation into the Use of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback in People with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

  • IRAS ID

    139122

  • Contact name

    George Kernohan

  • Contact email

    wg.kernohan@ulster.ac.uk

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 6 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Biofeedback is a process that allows people to obtain information about their internal physiological reactions and thereby learn to control them.

    Researchers studying the brain and nervous system have found that regulating heart rate can help us to relax. Controlling heart rate using biofeedback has been shown in some studies to help people manage symptoms of stress such as anxiety and depression.

    This research will explore whether biofeedback can help people with high functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome reduce reported symptoms of stress.

    Participants from South Eastern Trust with a diagnosis of high functioning autism (n=39; IQ>70; 13-24 years) will be invited to use a biofeedback device for 12 weeks that helps them to regulate their heart rate. People who enroll for the study will be randomly assigned different biofeedback devices. Training and support in the use of the device will be provided to participants by the researcher over two home visits.

    Assessment will involve obtaining questionnaire reports from participants and their carers about participant levels of anxiety, depression and sensory symptoms, demographics and lifestyle. In addition, short term physiological measurements of heart rate variability will be taken at home whilst participants look at pictures of landscapes and people presented on a computer. These assessments will be carried out at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the study to see if there are any differences in how each participant’s heart rate changes, whether there are any changes in participant's reported symptoms and whether there are any differences in how they recognize emotions. Participants will be asked to give daily reports on their progress by text or email to monitor stress levels, usability of device and dropout rates.

    The overall aim is to determine whether biofeedback is a way of helping people with autism to reduce symptoms of stress.

  • REC name

    HSC REC A

  • REC reference

    15/NI/0255

  • Date of REC Opinion

    20 Jan 2016

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion