Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback for Substance Use Disorder

What is the efficacy of heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) in the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD)?In this randomized clinical trial that included 115 adults with SUD, those receiving HRVB experienced significant reductions in negative affect, craving, and alcohol and other drug use relative to controls. Mechanistic findings suggest that HRVB practice may disrupt moment-level associations between craving and substance use, highlighting its potential as an adjunctive SUD treatment.HRVB is a low-cost and accessible treatment that may support SUD recovery; future phase 3 trials are warranted.

Corresponding Author: David Eddie, PhD, ABPP, Recovery Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, 151 Merrimac St, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02114 (deddie@mgh.harvard.edu).

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