Biofeedback studies report stress improvements in healthcare workers
A review reported improvements in stress and related symptoms, but varied methods, small samples and limited follow-up make the size and durability of benefits unclear.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Studies of biofeedback in healthcare workers reported improvements in perceived stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms and resilience, alongside changes in measures of bodily regulation. The review combines several study designs and does not provide a pooled effect estimate. These findings suggest potential benefit, while leaving uncertainty about how much improvement biofeedback itself produces.
This abstract-based summary relies on preliminary evidence. The authors identify small samples, nonrandomized designs, differences between studies and little long-term follow-up; comparator details and effect sizes are absent.
How studies were combined
The review included randomized trials, studies without random assignment and before-and-after studies. Because methods differed, the authors summarized patterns in words instead of pooling results into a single numerical estimate of benefit.
What physiological changes mean
Reported physiological changes included greater heart rate variability and less sympathetic arousal. These measurements address bodily regulation; the abstract does not establish that changes in these markers translate into fewer stress-related illnesses or sustained occupational recovery.
The original publication
Enhancing wellness: a systematic review of biofeedback interventions for healthcare professionals.
Cantone E, Urban A, Perra A et al.
Front Psychiatry · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41918582
- Record checked
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