Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of paced respiration on anxiety reduction in a clinical population

  • Articles
  • Published:
Biofeedback and Self-regulation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of paced respiration on autonomic and self-report indices of affect within a clinical population. Thirty-six alcohol-dependent inpatients scoring high in trait anxiety were randomly assigned to either a pacing or attention control group. The paced subjects received 10 minutes of slow-breathing training during the first experimental session, while control subjects simply counted the pacing tones. In a second session, paced subjects were asked to breathe at the same lowered rate (10 cycles per minute) on their own, while the remaining subjects were instructed to relax. Prior to and following each session, self-ratings of tension level and state anxiety were collected. As expected, paced subjects evidenced greater reductions in self-rated tension, state anxiety, and skin conductance levels compared to the control subjects. It was concluded that respiratory pacing is an easily learned self-control strategy and potentially may be a useful therapeutic tool.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bernstein, D. A., & Borkovec, T. D. (1973).Progressive relaxation training. Champaign, IL: Research Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brener, J., & Jones, N. M. (1974). Interoceptive discrimination in intact humans: Detection of cardiac activity.Physiology and Behavior, 13 763–767.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cappo, B. M., & Holmes, D. S. (1984). The utility of prolonged respiratory exhalation for reducing physiological and psychological arousal in nonthreatening and threatening situations.Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 28 265–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, D. M., Salkovskis, P. M., & Chalkley, A. J. (1985). Respiratory control as a treatment for panic attacks.Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 16 23–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M. E., & Hirschman, R. (1980). Effects of paced respiration on affective responses during dental stress.Journal of Dental Research, 59 1533.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, H. D., Goodenough, D. R., Witkin, H. A., Oltman, P., Gould, H., & Shulman, E. (1975). Effects of stress on components of the respiration cycle.Psychophysiology, 12 377–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engel, B. T., & Chism, R. A. (1967). Effect of increases and decreases in breathing rate on heart rate and finger pulse volume.Psychophysiology, 4 83–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, M. R., Stroebel, C. F., Strong, P., & Szarek, B. L. (1983). Quieting response training: Long-term evaluation of a clinical biofeedback practice.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 8 265–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossman, P. (1983). Respiration, stress, and cardiovascular function.Psychophysiology, 20 284–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossman, P., & de Swart, J. C. G. (1984). Diagnosis of hyperventilation syndrome on the basis of reported complaints.Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 28 97–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, V. A., Katkin, E. S., Lick, J. R., & Habberfield, T. (1976). Paced respiration as a technique for the modification of autonomic response to stress.Psychophysiology, 13 386–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haugen, G. B., Dixon, H. H., & Dickel, H. A. (1960).A therapy for anxiety tension reactions. New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschman, R., & Clark, M. (1983). Bogus physiological feedback. In J. T. Cacioppo & R. E. Petty (Eds.),Social psychophysiology. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, D. S., McCaul, K. D., & Solomon, S. (1978). Control of respiration as a means of controlling responses to threat.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36 198–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jurko, M., Jost, H., & Hill, T. S. (1952). Pathology of the energy system: An experimental-clinical study of physiological adaptive capacities in a non-patient, a psychoneurotic and an early paranoid schizophrenic group.Journal of Psychology, 33 183–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magarian, G. I. (1982). Hyperventilation syndromes: Infrequently recognized common expressions of anxiety and stress.Medicine, 61 219–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCaul, K. D., Solomon, S., & Holmes, D. S. (1979). Effects of paced respiration and expectations on physiological and psychological responses to threat.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37 564–571.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moses, J., Clemens, W. J., & Brener, J. (1986). Bidirectional voluntary heart rate control during static muscular exercise: Metabolic and respiratory correlates.Psychophysiology, 23 510–520.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nemiah, J. C. (1975). Anxiety neurosis. In A. M. Freedman, H. I. Kaplan, & B. J. Sadock (Eds.),Comprehensive textbook of psychiatry/II. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obrist, P. A. (1976). The cardiovascular reaction—As it appears today.Psychophysiology, 13 95–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obrist, P. A., Webb, R. A., Sutterer, J. R., & Howard J. L. (1970). The cardiac-somatic relationship: Some reformulations.Psychophysiology, 6 569–587.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., & Lushene, R. D. (1970).Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sroufe, L. A. (1971). Effects of depth and rate of breathing on heart rate and heart rate variability.Psychophysiology, 8 648–655.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stein, M., & Schiavi, R. (1975). Psychophysiological respiratory disorders. In A. M. Freedman, H. I. Kaplan, & B. J. Sadock (Eds.),Comprehensive textbook of psychiatry/II. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suess, W. M., Alexander, A. B., Smith, D. D., Sweeney, H. W., & Marion, R. J. (1980). The effects of psychological stress on respiration: A preliminary study of anxiety and hyperventilation.Psychophysiology, 17 535–540.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, R. K., & Benson, H. (1972). The physiology of meditation.Scientific American, 226 84–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells, J. K., Howard, G. S., Nowlin, W. F., & Vargas, M. J. (1986). Presurgical anxiety and postsurgical pain and adjustment: Effects of a stress inoculation procedure.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54 831–835.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westcott, M. R., & Huttenlocher, J. (1961). Cardiac conditioning: The effects and implications of controlled and uncontrolled respiration.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 61 353–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeier, H. (1984). Arousal reduction with biofeedback-supported respiratory meditation.Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 9 497–508.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Bay Pines, Florida

    Michael E. Clark

  2. Kent State University, USA

    Richard Hirschman

Authors
  1. Michael E. Clark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard Hirschman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This project was supported by Veterans Administration Medical Health Services Research and Development funds awarded to the first author.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Clark, M.E., Hirschman, R. Effects of paced respiration on anxiety reduction in a clinical population. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation 15, 273–284 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01011109

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01011109

Descriptor Key Words

Search

Navigation