Mental illness such as depression and anxiety as well as cerebrovascular disease are linked to impairment of neurocardiac function mediated by changes to the autonomic nervous system with increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic activity. Autonomic neurocardiac function can be evaluated by computing heart rate variability (HRV). Over the past decades, research has demonstrated the diagnostic value of HRV as independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality and as disease marker in progressive autonomic nervous system disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Here we summarize our studies on HRV and its therapeutic modulation in the context of psychopharmacology as well as psychiatric and neurological disorders to honor the life of Professor Evgeny Vaschillo, the true pioneer of HRV research who sadly passed away on November 21st, 2020.

Background: We recently showed in a randomized controlled trial that Web-based self-help as an adjunct improved the effectiveness of multimodal inpatient psychotherapy for depression. Objective: The aims of this study were (1) to determine whether a Web-based self-help adjunctive to multimodal inpatient psychotherapeutic treatment could also improve the course of depressive symptoms and (2) to identify predictors of residual depressive symptoms at follow-up. Methods: Overall, 229 patients were randomized either to the Web-based self-help intervention group (Deprexis) or an active control group (Web-based information about depression and depressive symptoms) in addition to multimodal inpatient psychotherapy. Participants in both groups were able to access their respective Web-based programs for 12 weeks, which meant that they typically had access after discharge from the inpatient unit (mean hospitalization duration: 40 days, T1). Follow-up was performed 6 months after study intake (T3). Results: At follow-up, participants of the Web-based self-help group had considerably lower symptom load regarding depressive symptoms (d=0.58) and anxiety (d=0.46) as well as a better quality of life (d=0.43) and self-esteem (d=0.31) than participants of the control group. Nearly 3 times as many participants of the intervention group compared with the control group achieved remission in accordance with less deterioration. The number needed to treat based on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) improved over time (T1: 7.84, T2: 7.09, and T3: 5.12). Significant outcome predictors were BDI at discharge and treatment group. Conclusions: Web-based self-help as an add-on to multimodal inpatient psychotherapy improved the short-term course of depressive symptoms beyond termination. Residual symptoms at discharge from inpatient treatment and utilization of the Web-based self-help were the major predictors of depressive symptoms at follow-up. Challenges and barriers (eg, costs, therapists’ concerns, or technical barriers) of adding Web-based interventions to inpatient treatment have to be addressed. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02196896; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02196896.

A randomized controlled study (RCT) recently showed that short-term heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback in addition to standard rehabilitation care for alcohol dependence can reduce craving, anxiety and improve cardiovascular autonomic function. In this one-year follow-up study we aimed to explore whether completion of 2-week HRV-Biofeedback training is associated with long-term abstinence. Furthermore, we sought to identify potential predictors of post-treatment abstinence. We conducted a survey on abstinence in patients with alcohol dependence 1 year after completion of an RCT comparing HRV-biofeedback in addition to inpatient rehabilitation treatment alone (controls). Abstinence rates were compared and analysed for association with demographic data as well as psychometric and autonomic cardiac assessment before and after completion of the biofeedback training using bivariate and multivariate regression analyses. Out of 48 patients who participated in the RCT, 27 patients (9 females, ages 42.9 ± 8.6, mean ± SD) completed our one-year follow-up. When including in the analysis only patients who completed follow-up, the rate of abstinence tended to be higher in patients who underwent HRV-biofeedback 1 year earlier compared to those who received rehabilitative treatment alone (66.7% vs 50%, p = ns). This non-significant trend was also observed in the intention-to-treat analysis where patients who did not participate in the follow-up were assumed to have relapsed (46,7% biofeedback vs. 33.3% controls, p = ns). Neither cardiac autonomic function nor psychometric variables were associated with abstinence 1 year after HRV-biofeedback. Our follow-up study provide a first indication of possible increase in long-term abstinence after HRV-biofeedback for alcohol dependence in addition to rehabilitation. The original randomized controlled trial was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register ( DRKS00004618 ). This one-year follow-up survey has not been registered.

Background: Unemployment may impair mental and physical health. The influencing factors causing such negative effects are relevant from an individual and public health perspective. The personality as one possible influencing factor was discussed. This study investigated the prevalence of the typeD personality in an unemployed population and its connections to socio-demographic, psychological and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. Methods: A questionnaire set including socio-demographics, typeD scale (DS14), Complaint list (BL), Beck-Depression-Inventory II (BDI-II) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) was handed out to 203 unemployed individuals [126 females, mean age ± SD: 42.36 ± 11.08]. For HRV assessment (RMSSD), a subsample of 83 participants [50 females, median age ± IQR: 47.00 ± 17.00] passed the "stress-tests" (timed breathing, d2-attention-stress-test, math test) while heart frequency (HF) was acquired via the Stressball software (BioSign GmbH, Ottenhofen, Germany). Results: 53% of the unemployed had a typeD personality. Compared to non-typeD individuals, typeD individuals had rarely children and by trend a lower educational level; they showed significantly higher scores in the BDI-II and lower scores in the GSE and BL. No differences were observed in mean HF or RMSSD during all the stress-tests. Conclusion: The HRV of individuals with a typeD personality is no worse than that of individuals without a typeD personality. TypeD personality was significantly associated with negative health effects regarding depressiveness, self-efficacy and physical complaints. Our main findings implicate that the DS14 could serve as a short and reliable screening instrument to select concerned unemployed individuals who might be at risk for negative health effects for adequate intervention.

Prävention soll dem Auftreten psychiatrischer Erkrankungen und einer möglichen Behinderung infolge psychischer Störungen entgegenwirken. Die diesbezüglichen Maßnahmen betreffen das Individuum selbst, den familiären Kontext sowie die weitere Umwelt. Universelle und primäre Prävention richten sich an die gesamte Bevölkerung oder an einen Teil davon (z. B. Schüler). Sekundäre und gezielte Prävention sollen die Manifestation von psychiatrischen Erkrankungen bei gefährdeten Personen (z. B. verhaltensauffällige Kinder) verhindern, Tertiärprävention einer Verschlechterung oder einem Wiederauftreten von Symptomen bei bereits Erkrankten entgegenwirken. Innerhalb der vergangenen 25 Jahre gelang es zunehmend, Schutz- und Risikofaktoren, die die Wahrscheinlichkeit des Auftretens psychischer Störungen vermindern bzw. erhöhen zu identifizieren. Daraus resultieren verbesserte Präventionsmöglichkeiten. Der vorliegende Beitrag soll einen Überblick über präventive Maßnahmen gegen die häufigsten psychischen Störungen unter Berücksichtigung der aktuellen Evidenzlage geben. Prevention aims to avoid the occurrence of psychiatric illness and disability caused by psychic disorders. The relevant interventions refer to the individual, the family context and other environmental factors. Universal and primary prevention target the entire population or a part of this (i. e. students). Secondary and selective intervention should prevent the manifestation of psychiatric disorders in vulnerable individuals (i. e. children with behavioral problems). Tertiary measures aim at preventing the worsening or recurrence of symptoms in individuals who already suffer from mental illness. Within the past 25 years protective and risk factors that reduce or increase the probability of occurrence of mental disorders have increasingly been identified. This results in improved prevention. The present article gives an overview of preventive measures against the most common mental disorders in the light of the current evidence base.