Digital Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Intervention for First Episode Psychosis

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: First Episode Psychosis (FEP)

In brief

The objective of the current study is to assess the impact of a five-week digital heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-B) intervention or music listening on the well-being of first episode psychosis patients. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of how an individual's heart rate can adapt to a changing environment and mental and physiological challenges. It has been well established that HRV can be regulated through actions such as slow breathing and meditation. HRV Biofeedback (HRV-B) involves breathing at a specific frequency, usually around 6 breaths per minute, which has been shown to maximize HRV. Research has shown that HRV-B interventions improved mental health symptoms in various populations including individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07628699
Run by: The University of Hong Kong
People needed: 80
Starts: 2026-06-01
Expected to finish: 2026-08-01
Last updated by the study team: 2026-06-05

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 55. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Patients with first-episode-psychosis who have been in treatment for less than 5 years
Inclusive of affective and non-affective psychosis
Aged 18-55
A diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders or affective psychosis including schizoaffective disorder, bipolar affective disorders and depression with psychosis based on DSM V diagnostic criteria
Able to provide written informed consent.
Patients should be stable but with symptoms present
Score a minimum of 7 on the Calgary Depression Scale.

You may not qualify if…

Any organic neurological or cardiac conditions
Prescription of cardiovascular medication
Active severe suicidal ideation
Diabetes as this can affect HRV
Current substance abuse
An ECG will be performed on each participant prior to joining the study to exclude undiagnosed cardiac conditions

Where it is running

Queen Mary Hospital/University of Hong Kong — Hong Kong, SAR China, Hong Kong

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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