--- title: Does a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback reduce premenstrual and depressive symptoms? description: Yes, the app reduced premenstrual, depressive, and stress symptoms over 4 weeks. However, it did not change the underlying heart rate patterns it was designed url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/smartphone-based-heart-rate-variability-biofeedback-training-improves-2023/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback reduce premenstrual and depressive symptoms? Randomised trial, 2023 # Does a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback reduce premenstrual and depressive symptoms? Yes, the app reduced premenstrual, depressive, and stress symptoms over 4 weeks. However, it did not change the underlying heart rate patterns it was designed to improve. Early or limited evidence 27 participants with above-average premenstrual or depressive symptoms ## What they did Pilot study with 27 participants with above-average premenstrual or depressive symptoms. Some used a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback for 4 weeks; others waited on a waitlist. Researchers measured heart rate variability, attention control, depression, stress/anxiety, and premenstrual symptoms before and after the 4-week period. ## What they found The app group showed improvements in premenstrual symptoms, depressive symptoms, and stress/anxiety symptoms over the 4 weeks. They also improved on executive functioning tests. The waitlist group did not improve. However, the measurement of heart rate variability that the app was designed to train did not actually improve, nor did scores for noticing new information. ## What it means for you The app may help people feel better, but it did not change the underlying heart rhythm patterns it was designed to train. This is a small pilot study, so results need confirmation in larger studies. 27 participants 4 weeks intervention duration ## About the study Original title Smartphone-based heart rate variability biofeedback training improves premenstrual and depressive symptoms as well as anxiety/stress symptoms and attentional executive control: a pilot study Authors Berenike Lisa Blaser, Mathias Weymar, Julia Wendt Year 2023 Study design Randomised trial Participants 40 What was tested 4-week smartphone heart rate variability biofeedback app Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.22541/au.170000973.36600989/v1](https://doi.org/10.22541/au.170000973.36600989/v1) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Apps and digital interventions](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-digital-health/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Athletes and sport](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-athletes/)[Economic burden](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-economic-burden/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Cohort study, 2010 How do anxiety disorders differ across different life stages? Review, 2003 How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD? Randomised trial, 2017 Does Sepranolone reduce symptoms of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD)? Randomised trial, 2023 What does research show about PMDD neurochemistry? Lab study, 2013 Could antidepressants help prevent PMS by keeping brain chemicals stable? Cohort study, 2022 What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗