Accepted for/Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: Nov 25, 2020
Date Accepted: Mar 31, 2021
Date Submitted to PubMed: Apr 23, 2021
Biofeedback-based Connected Mental Health Interventions for Anxiety: A Systematic Literature Review
ABSTRACT
Background:
The use of technology for mental health has become an established field, where technological solutions including websites, mobile applications, and technological devices are exploited in the management of mental health issues. Biofeedback is an approach that can be included in technology-based solutions for physiological factors' management and assessment.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to investigate the use of biofeedback approaches in connected health interventions addressing anxiety.
Methods:
A review of publications presenting empirically evaluated biofeedback-based interventions for anxiety was conducted. The review is based on publications available in the sources: IEEE Digital Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus.
Results:
Thirteen publications presenting different empirically evaluated interventions were included and investigated. The identified interventions addressed either primarily anxiety disorders or anxiety associated with other health issues like migraine, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, autism, and rheumatology. The identified solutions combined biofeedback with different techniques including virtual reality, music therapy, games, and relaxation practices. The connected health interventions targeted different cohort groups including children, students, and patients. Overall, the outcomes of the empirical evaluations conducted on the identified interventions yielded positive results and emphasized the efficacy of connected health solutions for anxiety using biofeedback. However certain unfavorable outcomes were reported in studies addressing patients with certain health issues. Those outcomes included the preference of patients of traditional therapy and the interventions not having an effect on the anxiety.
Conclusions:
Use of biofeedback in connected health interventions for the treatment and management of anxiety, allows a better screening and understanding of both psychological and physiological state of the patients, which would improve the outcome of the interventions and boost their effectiveness. However, when used with patients suffering from certain health issues, suitability investigations are needed.
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